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Dutch journalist killed by Daesh sniper fire in Libya’s Sirte

A fighter loyal to Libya's Government of National Accord fires his weapon in the coastal city of Sirte on September 29, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

Sniper fire has claimed a Dutch journalist who was covering clashes between UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) troops and Daesh in the coastal city of Sirte.

Jeroen Oerlemans was "shot in the chest by a Daesh sniper while covering battles in Sirte" on Sunday, said Dr. Akram Gliwan, the spokesman for a hospital in Misrata, the town where the photographer’s body was taken to.

Oerlemans worked for several organizations in Libya, including the Belgian weekly Knack magazine, which has also confirmed his death.

The weekly posted a message on their website wishing “his family much strength."

One of Oerlemans’ co-workers also confirmed his death on Twitter, "Jeroen Oerlemans was shot dead by a sniper in Sirte. He was wearing a vest but the bullet struck him in the side and hit his heart," tweeted Jan Eikelboom. 

"Rest in Peace. Your photographs of #Sirte #Libya and other places will live on forever,'' tweeted the Dutch ambassador to Libya, Eric Strating.

The UN-backed government in Libya started a large-scale military operation in May to purge Daesh from Sirte, which is the hometown of the country's former slain dictator, Muammar Gaddafi.

A fighter loyal to Libya's Government of National Accord fires his weapon from a liberated building on the frontline against Daesh members in Sirte on September 28, 2016. 

Daesh, which captured Sirte last year, had taken advantage of a chaos gripping Libya since 2011, when a NATO military intervention followed the uprising that led to the toppling and killing of Gaddafi.

Meanwhile, around 18 people have been killed in the clashes raging in the coastal city.  

According to GNA sources, the clashes erupted as Daesh terrorists were withdrawing from their besieged stronghold in the city.

"Our forces exterminated a group from the Daesh gang that were trying to escape," read a GNA statement.


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