| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa North |
| Libya forces facing ‘fierce’ ISIS resistance in Sirte |
| 2016-09-05 |
| [ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Libyan pro-government forces are facing "fierce resistance" from ISIS holdouts in Sirte and it could take several days to gain full control of the city, a front man said Sunday. Forces loyal to Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) launched a new attack on Saturday against ISIS in Sirte, the coastal city seized by the jihadists last year. Backed by weeks of US air strikes, pro-GNA fighters have recaptured nearly all of what had been the jihadists’ main stronghold in North Africa. ISIS fighters are now cornered in a last district of the city but Reda Issa, a front man for loyalist forces, said it was proving difficult to dislodge them. "IS (ISIS) is putting up fierce resistance in their last neighborhoods," Issa told AFP. "They are trying to make the battle last longer although they know it will be over soon." At least 10 pro-GNA fighters were killed and 60 maimed in Saturday’s offensive, with most of the deaths caused by boom-mobiles and suicide kabooms, Issa said. Fighting had eased on Sunday, he said, as pro-government forces sought ways "to minimize the casualties caused by ISIS suicide attacks the next time there will be an offensive". "We hope to liberate Sirte before Eid," Issa said, referring to the Eid al-Adha Moslem holiday, which is due around Sept. 12. The forces loyal to the UN-backed GNA had said they were preparing to "liberate" the entire city after seizing several ISIS positions, including its headquarters, last month. The city’s fall would be a huge setback to ISIS’ efforts to expand its self-proclaimed "caliphate" beyond Syria and Iraq where the jihadists have also suffered losses. The capture of Sirte by ISIS sparked fears the jihadists would use the city as a springboard for attacks on Europe. IS remains deadly in its Sirte death throes [Libya Herald] The outcome of the battle for Sirte is not in doubt but IS is proving no less deadly in its death throws. Ten Bunyan Marsous fighters died today in a renewed assault on the terrorists’ remaining positions. At least 30, one report puts the figure as high as 70, other fighters were maimed. The bully boyz are still resorting to the much-feared boom-mobiles but one attempt today was blown up by ground fire before it could reach its target. Snipers and booby traps continue to reap a grim harvest of dead and injured. Among the slain today was the oldest fighter in the BM ranks, Ali Edaib, aged 80. The corpse count among the largely Misratan attackers is now approaching 500. The fighting today was in the town’s Number One district with some mopping up in the Third district. Both are largely residential. The BM media office said that the bodies of ten bully boyz had been found in a school. It is not clear how they were killed. In what must be a disturbing development for BM commanders, last night a roadside IED on the highway between Misrata and Sirte, destroyed a passing BM vehicle and killed two of the occupants. |
| Posted by:Fred |