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SIRTE, Libya — Libyan forces said on Friday they had edged further into the centre of Sirte as they seek to recapture the city from the Daesh terror group, following heavy fighting until late the previous evening that left dozens dead.
Forces aligned with Libya’s United Nations-backed government in Tripoli advanced rapidly on the militant group’s Libyan stronghold in May, but they have faced resistance from snipers, suicide bombers and mines as they have closed in on the city centre.
Sirte had been controlled by Daesh since last year, becoming its most important base outside Syria and Iraq, and its loss would be a major setback for the group.
After a lull in fighting earlier this week, the government-backed forces launched a fresh assault on several fronts after first pounding Daesh positions with artillery and air strikes.
The brigades, made up mainly of fighters from the western city of Misrata, said in a statement that they had captured a hotel on the eastern front line used by Daesh snipers, and also taken control of part of the “Dollar” neighbourhood.
They said they had foiled three attempted car bomb attacks and destroyed an armoured vehicle. Daesh expanded into Libya amid the political chaos and security vacuum that developed after long-time ruler Muammar Qadhafi was toppled in an uprising in 2011.
The group extended its presence along about 250 km of Libya’s coastline, but failed to win and retain territory elsewhere in the country.