- Title: Libya forces clash with Islamic State in battle for Sirte
- Date: 27th October 2016
- Summary: SIRTE, LIBYA (OCTOBER 27, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TANKS BELONGING TO LIBYAN FORCES DRIVING IN SIRTE'S GHIZA BAHRIYA DISTRICT LIBYAN FORCES WALKING IN STREET IN GHIZA BAHRIYA DISTRICT / CARS MOVING IN BACKGROUND LIBYAN FORCES STANDING IN GHIZA BAHRIYA (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MEMBER OF BONYAN MARSOUS BRIGADE, HUSSEIN EDRA, SAYING: "Today, the Bonyan Marsous forces and the Libyan army forces are advancing onto Ghiza Bahriya to free it from the last of Islamic State militants hiding out. The Bonyan have been advancing in Ghiza Bahriya and thank God there have been no causalities so far, there are only some wounded. With the help of these heroes and God, victory will be near." VARIOUS OF LIBYAN FORCES STANDING BY BUILDINGS VARIOUS OF LIBYAN FORCES TAKING COVER BEHIND WALL VARIOUS OF FORCES SEEN THROUGH HOLE IN THE WALL OF A DAMAGED BUILDING VARIOUS OF FORCES STANDING IN STREET LIBYAN FIRING ARTILLERY GUN FROM ATOP A CAR SMOKE SEEN RISING FROM AFAR ARMOURED VEHICLE BELONGING TO LIBYAN FORCES SEEN IN STREET / AUDIO: GUN SHOTS BLACK SMOKE RISING IN DISTANCE VARIOUS OF ARMOURED VEHICLES MOVING IN STREET / AUDIO: FIRING LIBYAN FORCES FIRING TANK FIRING LIBYAN FORCES MOVING BEHIND TANK AND ARMOURED CAR VARIOUS OF LIBYAN FORCES FIRING FROM ATOP PICK-UP TRUCKS LIBYAN FORCES CARRYING INJURED MAN TO AMBULANCE ON STRETCHER SMOKE SEEN RISING FROM A BUILDING FORCES IN STREET / SMOKE RISING IN BACKGROUND
- Embargoed: 11th November 2016 14:38
- Keywords: Sirte Libya Islamic State clashes tanks gunfire assault recapture
- Location: SIRTE, LIBYA
- City: SIRTE, LIBYA
- Country: Libya
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA00155S7XAF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Libyan forces launched a renewed heavy artillery attack on Islamic State positions in Sirte's Ghiza Bahriya district on Thursday (October 27).
The soldiers were supported by tanks and armoured vehicles as they tried to force an advance.
After a six-month campaign of street-by-street fighting backed by U.S. air strikes, Libyan forces have taken back most of the city of Sirte, where Islamic State is holding out with snipers, booby-traps and car bombs.
Sirte fell to Islamic State more than a year ago after militants expanded their territory and took advantage of infighting that emerged among Libya's rival factions following the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi.
Forces fighting Islamic State in Sirte are mostly from nearby Misrata, whose brigades are among the most powerful in Libya. They are allied with the U.N.-backed unity government in Tripoli that is trying to unite competing factions.
Western governments back the unity government hoping it will bring stability and help counter Islamic State and the migrant smugglers. But Tripoli leaders have struggled to extend their influence against hardliners.
Defeating Islamic State in Sirte will destroy the militant group's main stronghold outside its Iraq and Syria territory just as Iraqi forces move to retake Mosul. But some militant commanders and fighters escaped before Sirte was encircled. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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