Libyan forces continue battle to retake Sirte from Daesh

Clashes between pro-Libyan government forces and the Islamic State militant group continue to retake the city of Sirte.

A spokesman for the operations chamber of Al-Bunyan Al-Marsoos (Solid Structure) Operation, colonel Mohammed Al-Ghasri said “sporadic clashes took place between our forces and Daesh fighters north of Sirte”, adding that fighting for the group’s third and last stronghold in the city will also be fierce considering the group’s fierce fight over the second site, Turkey’s Anadolu news agency reported.

Al-Ghasri explained that the government troops are securing and combing the liberated areas and has postponed the fight over the last site till air operations carried out by the government air force in collaboration with the US Air Force are finished.

According to Al-Ghasri there is a significant decline in Daesh fighters combat capabilities saying “the number of snipers and fighters is declining”. “The group has shifted to using suicide bombers,” he added.

Al-Ghasri said three female suicide bombers belonging to the group have tried to approach the government forces in the second district of Sirte, but blew themselves up before reaching the troops.