Libya Dawn recaptures Sabratha from Daesh

Libya Dawn fighters regained control of Sabratha, 70 kilometres west of Tripoli, from Daesh yesterday, local authorities said.

In a statement published on their website, the local authority in the city said that Daesh members “took advantage of political chaos and a lack of central authority to establish a presence in Libya… But thanks to God, they were pushed out of the city.”

Daesh had beheaded 11 members of the local security forces and killed six others.

The statement noted that Daesh gained control of a number of buildings, including the headquarters of the security directorate before they were forced out of the city.

Daesh controls the city of Sirte, 45 kilometres east of Tripoli, and is trying to expand its domination over other cities. It has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly attacks in the country.

Reuters said that the US carried out airstrikes on a suspected Daesh training camp on the outskirts of Sabratha on Friday, killing nearly 50 people. The Serbian government said two of its diplomats, who had been kidnapped in Libya in November, also died in the attack.