13 dead in clashes with IS in Sirte

Ten jihadists and three pro-government fighters died in clashes on Thursday around the last positions of the Islamic State group in the Libyan coastal city of Sirte, medical and military sources said.

“Our forces are advancing on the last holdouts of Daesh” in the only district of Sirte still held by IS, said the media office of the pro-government fighters, using an Arabic acronym for the jihadist group. 

Three car bombs driven by jihadists were destroyed before reaching their targets, it said. 

Sirte was an IS stronghold before forces loyal to the country’s Government of National Accord launched an offensive against the jihadists in May. Medics said three pro-GNA fighters were killed.