5 Forces Killed as Clashes Re-erupt with Daesh in Libyan Sirte

Local Editor

At least five members of forces allied with the UN-backed Libyan unity government were killed in fresh clashes with Daesh [the Arabic acronym for the terrorist "ISIS" group] amid operations to liberate the northern city of Sirte.

Medical officials at a local field hospital said the five brigade members lost their lives in Friday's fighting, which was focused on the Dollar neighborhood, situated about 1.5 kilometers southwest of Sirte's center.

The officials also noted that 28 Libyan forces sustained injuries in their latest push to capture ground from the extremists besieged in central Sirte.

"Despite the obstacles and difficulties we have faced in the Dollar neighborhood such as land mines, booby traps and snipers, ... we made a good progress forwards," said a pro-government soldier.

Libyan forces launched a military operation in May to retake Sirte, which fell to Daesh in last year. They managed to enter the city on June 9 and, since then, they have liberated several residential districts.

The battle for Sirte has left over 300 pro-government forces dead and more than 1,500 others wounded.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team