IS suicide bombings target Libya pro-govt forces in Sirte

The Islamic State group carried out three suicide car bombings on Sunday against forces allied with Libya’s unity government battling to retake the city of Sirte, an official said.

“Three explosions from cars driven by Islamic State suicide bombers targeted our forces in Sirte,” said Rida Issa, a spokesman for the unity government’s forces. “There are several wounded among our forces,” he said, without providing further details. One bomber blew up his car a few metres from a group of pro-government fighters near the Abu Hadi roundabout in the city’s southeast, Issa said. The other bombers targeted pro-government forces and a field hospital in the city’s west. Forces loyal to the unity government have been fighting deadly street battles to retake Sirte, a coastal city 450 kilometres east of Tripoli that IS seized last year and turned into its main North African bastion.