Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


    Libya's Pro-Government Forces: Close to Taking Control of IS-held Sirte

   by VOA News

   Forces aligned with Libya's unity government say they are close to
   taking control of the Islamic State-held port city of Sirte.

   Heavy fighting was taking place near the Ouagadougou conference center
   that is being used as an IS command center, the French news agency AFP
   reported. Warplanes also attacked IS-held positions.

   Fighters aligned with the Government of National Accord (GNA) began the
   battle for Sirte, former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's hometown, in
   early May.

   Ahmed Hadiya, spokesman for the pro-government forces, told The
   Associated Press Friday the offensive is nearing its "final stage."

   Slowed by mines, attacks

   Militias from the western city of Misrata were able to reach the
   outskirts of Sirte earlier in the week, although they were slowed by
   mines and attacks by suicide bombers.

   Pro-government fighters are besieging the city from three directions --
   the west, south and east.

   The U.N.-backed Libyan government said more than 100 government forces
   had been killed and more than 400 wounded in the battle for Sirte.


   The GNA, established in Tripoli more than two months ago, is designed
   to unify violence-ridden Libya where two rival governments that were
   set up in the capital and the east in 2014.

   "We're encouraged by the progress they're making," U.S. special envoy
   Brett McGurk said of the pro-government forces. "Once you have a
   credible force on the ground that moves against them, there is a chance
   that they could crack pretty quickly."

   Rival factions

   Libya has been in chaos since longtime dictator Gadhafi was toppled and
   killed in 2011. Rival armed factions have spent the last five years
   trying to grab power and take control of Libya's oil industry.

   The fight for oil fields and refineries has led to devastating fires
   and damage and has destroyed the Libyan economy. As as many as 1.3
   million of Libya's 6.3 million people need humanitarian assistance,
   according to the United Nations.

   The turmoil also has opened the door to extremists, such as Islamic
   State, to grab territory.

   IS last year took control of Sirte, the only major IS-held city outside
   of Iraq and Syria. The Islamist militant group, however, has struggled
   to gain territory in Libya, and the loss of the Mediterranean city
   would be a major blow to IS.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/libya-progovernment-forces-close-to-t
   aking-control-of-is-held-sirte/3371711.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/libya-progovernment-forces-close-to-taking-control-of-is-held-sirte/3371711.html