Libya's unity government forces fought their way into the Islamic State jihadist group's stronghold of Sirte on Thursday in a land, air and sea operation to recapture the city, a spokesman said. The United States confirmed the advance on the city, the hometown of ousted dictator Muammar Qadhafi that has also been in the sights of forces of a rival authority in eastern Libya.
The loss of Sirte would amount to a blow for IS, which is also faced with battlefield reverses in Syria and Iraq. "The armed forces entered Sirte. They are currently in the centre, where clashes continue with Daesh," said Mohamad Ghassri, spokesman for the forces of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA). On Wednesday, the unity government said its forces had captured two military barracks from the jihadists near Sirte, which IS has held since 2014.
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