Libyan forces press assault on Sirte

Libyan pro-government forces pressed an advance against the Islamic State group in the coastal city of Sirte on Sunday as they pushed to clear terrorist holdouts from residential areas.

Loyalist forces armed with machine guns and light weapons advancing towards an area known as “residential district three” were seen in several parts of the city where the jihadists fled after suffering major losses in Sirte.

Pro-government forces also said they had seized new ground in “residential district two”, another part of Sirte under jihadist control, as well as a radio station used by the terrorists to broadcast propaganda.

Forces loyal to Libya’s UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) made a significant breakthrough Wednesday in a nearly three-month offensive to retake Sirte from the terrorist.

Backed by US air strikes, they seized control of the Ouagadougou conference centre used by the terrorists as a base and a number of surrounding positions. IS had taken control of Sirte in June 2015, sparking fears it would be used as a springboard for attacks on Europe. Mustafa al-Faqih, one of the commanders of loyalist forces said.