ahlam1399
08-22-2016, 09:12 AM
SIRTE: Libyan forces renewed their push to oust Islamic State from its former **rth African stronghold of Sirte on Sunday, saying they had seized the city's main mosque and a jail run by the militants' morality police.
The forces, mainly brigades from the city of Misrata, said that they are close to capture Sirte after taking most of the city in a three-month campaign and restricted militants to a residential area in the city centre. Since Aug. 1, they have been supported by U.S. air strikes.
According to spokesman Akram Gliwan from Misrata hospital, at least nine brigade fighters were killed and 85 wounded in Sunday's fighting.
Fighters backed by heavy artillery and tank early in the day in Bufaraa neighbourhood, seizing a building used by Islamic State's morality police as a prison, told Rida Issa, a spokesman.
Later, the forces took Ribat mosque, Sirte's biggest, where senior militants, including leading Islamic State ideologue Turki Ben Ali, had preached, the forces' media ****** said.
The media ****** added "dozens" of bodies of Islamic State fighters were found in newly captured areas, although it did **t give a specific number and it was **t clear when the militants were killed.
As of Thursday, the United States had carried out 65 air strikes over Sirte, according to U.S. Africa Command, against a supply truck, a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device and three enemy fighting positions.
The strikes have accelerated the progress of Libyan forces, whose progress had been slowed by suicide bombings, snipers and mines.
Islamic State took control of Sirte last year, setting up a proto-state modelled on its practices in Iraq and Syria and enforcing its ultra-hardline rule on residents.
Losing the city would be a major blow for the group, although militants who escaped or are based elsewhere in Libya are expected to keep trying to exploit the country's political turmoil and security vacuum.
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The forces, mainly brigades from the city of Misrata, said that they are close to capture Sirte after taking most of the city in a three-month campaign and restricted militants to a residential area in the city centre. Since Aug. 1, they have been supported by U.S. air strikes.
According to spokesman Akram Gliwan from Misrata hospital, at least nine brigade fighters were killed and 85 wounded in Sunday's fighting.
Fighters backed by heavy artillery and tank early in the day in Bufaraa neighbourhood, seizing a building used by Islamic State's morality police as a prison, told Rida Issa, a spokesman.
Later, the forces took Ribat mosque, Sirte's biggest, where senior militants, including leading Islamic State ideologue Turki Ben Ali, had preached, the forces' media ****** said.
The media ****** added "dozens" of bodies of Islamic State fighters were found in newly captured areas, although it did **t give a specific number and it was **t clear when the militants were killed.
As of Thursday, the United States had carried out 65 air strikes over Sirte, according to U.S. Africa Command, against a supply truck, a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device and three enemy fighting positions.
The strikes have accelerated the progress of Libyan forces, whose progress had been slowed by suicide bombings, snipers and mines.
Islamic State took control of Sirte last year, setting up a proto-state modelled on its practices in Iraq and Syria and enforcing its ultra-hardline rule on residents.
Losing the city would be a major blow for the group, although militants who escaped or are based elsewhere in Libya are expected to keep trying to exploit the country's political turmoil and security vacuum.
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/com/YEor/~4/DXNgTEob2hU
أكثر... (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/com/YEor/~3/DXNgTEob2hU/144366-Libyan-forces-say-they-capture-mosque-prison-from-Islamic-State-in-Sirte)