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Libya forces free five foreign captives from Islamic State in Sirte, official says

October 21, 2016 at 4:14 am

Libyan pro-government forces have freed five foreign nationals held by Daesh in Sirte after heavy fighting to capture the final district of the city, a local official said on Thursday.

Two of the freed foreigners were from Turkey, two from India and one from Bangladesh, said Rida Issa, a spokesman for the Bonyan Marsous forces which have been battling for six months against Daesh in Sirte.

It was not clear when or where the five where captured, but Daesh has attacked oilfields and kidnapped foreign workers over the last two years, taking advantage of chaos and infighting among Libya’s rival factions to gain territory.