News / North Africa

Forces loyal to Libyan unity government fully liberate Sirte

Monday, 05 December 2016 1:33 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 05 December 2016 4:15 PM ]

This file photo taken on November 21, 2016 shows a T-54 tank belonging to forces loyal to Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) taking position in Sirte's al-Giza al-Bahriya district during clashes with Daesh militant group to retake control of the Mediterranean coastal city. (By AFP)

Forces loyal to Libya’s UN-backed government have fully liberated the militant stronghold of Sirte from the Daesh Takfiri terrorists, officials say.

Reda Issa, a spokesman for pro-government forces, made the announcement on Monday.

"Our forces have total control of Sirte," Issa said, adding, "Our forces saw Daesh totally collapse."

The spokesman also noted that the forces are now carrying out mop-up operations to clear the area of the Takfiri remnants.

Meanwhile, a statement on the loyalist forces' official Facebook page confirmed the liberation of the terrorist group’s ex-North African stronghold of Sirte.

"Daesh has totally collapsed and dozens of them have given themselves up to our forces," the statement read.

Daesh took control of Sirte, on the Mediterranean coast, early last year and took advantage of the political chaos in Libya to increase its presence in the country.

Libyan forces launched a military operation in May to retake the city. They managed to enter the city in June and, since then, they have liberated a number of districts.

This file photo taken on September 28, 2016 shows smoke rising after an airstrike on District 3 of Sirte. (By AFP)

Sirte’s recapture will leave Daesh with no territory in Libya.

The oil-rich North African state has been dominated by violence since a NATO military intervention followed the 2011 uprising that led to the toppling and killing of longtime dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. Rival governments were set up in Tripoli and eastern Libya back in 2014.

Last December, however, the two administrations agreed on forming the Government of National Accord (GNA) after months of UN-brokered talks. The presidential council of the GNA arrived in Tripoli in March in a bid to restore order to the country.

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