Libya’s GNA forces liberate another district in Sirte

Forces loyal to Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) have liberated one of the last districts in the coastal city of Sirte as they continue to push the Daesh Takfiri terrorists out of their stronghold in the North African country.

Rida Issa, a spokesman for the GNA, said the city's neighborhood Number 2 was now under full control of the Libyan fighters loyal to the UN-backed government.

"On Tuesday morning, clashes erupted ... that led successfully to the recapture of neighborhood Number 2 with the cooperation of a tank unit to confront Daesh snipers," Issa said, adding, "The neighborhood is now completely under the control of our forces."

The pro-government forces achieved a major breakthrough against the terrorists on August 10, when they recaptured the Ouagadougou Conference Center, used by Daesh as a command center.

Sirte's mayor, Mokhtar Khalifa, said on August 11 that “70 percent” of the city had been liberated.

In recent weeks, the United States has also launched airstrikes on alleged Daesh positions in Libya.

Forces allied with the GNA began the offensive against the terror group in May to retake the city. The pro-government forces entered Sirte in June, but their advance was slowed down as Daesh hit back with sniper fire, car bombs and counterattacks.

Taking advantage of the chaos in Libya, Daesh took control of Sirte in June 2015, nearly four months after it declared presence in the city.

Foreign forces from several Western countries, including the US, France and Britain, are also in Libya in a purported fight against the Takfiri militants.

The GNA has denounced the presence of foreign troops, saying it violates Libya's sovereignty.

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