Frontline VIDEO: Islamic State on the Brink of Total Defeat in Libya’s Sirte

Tue Aug 30, 2016 11:40:37

Forces loyal to the Libyan unity government are on the verge of liberating the northern city of Sirte from Islamic State (ISIS / Daesh / ISIL / IS), as only one district in the coastal city is said to be under the control of the Takfiri terror group.

The forces said that they “completely liberated” neighborhood Number One residential area in central Sirte on Monday as they entered the final phase of their months-long operation against ISIS.

Spokesman Rida Issa said the brigade fighters were “in the process of clearing any remnants of ISIS” from the area.

According to hospital officials, at least six fighters were killed and 12 wounded in the Monday offensive, which saw ISIS terrorists using mines, car bombs or artillery to slow the advances of Libyan troops.

The forces, however, continue moving tanks and other vehicles towards other positions.

Last week, the brigades announced a pause in the fighting to let women and children leave the battle zone before the final push to fully liberate Sirte.

Forces of the UN-backed government launched the large-scale military operation in May to retake Sirte, which fell to ISIS last year.

They entered the city in June and have managed to retake several residential districts since then.

ISIS has taken advantage of a chaos gripping Libya since 2011, when a NATO military intervention followed the 20111 uprising that led to the toppling and killing of the longtime dictator, Muammar Gaddafi.

Currently, foreign forces from several Western countries, including the United States, France and Britain, are in Libya in a purported fight against ISIS.

However, the Government of National Accord, which is recognized as the legitimate Libyan government by the US, France, Britain and the Unite Nations, has denounced the presence of foreign troops, describing the intervention as the violation of the North African country’s sovereignty.

S/SH 11

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