Libyan Government Forces Take Air Base Back From Islamic State

The UN-backed unity government in Libya continues to make significant strides recapturing Islamic State territory with one of the biggest captures taking place on Saturday of a military base near the city of Sirte, Al Jazeera reported Monday.

Government forces captured Gardabiya Air Base as part of an ongoing military campaign to drive the armed group out of its Sirte stronghold, the report said.

"Heavy fire and the determination of our young people have caused the gunmen to run away … but they have left behind mines and booby-trapped cars.” – Abdul-Atti Mseimer of the Forces of al-Buniyan al-Marsous
Government forces are closing in on Sirte, the birthplace of former leader Muammer Gaddafi, after four weeks of sometimes intense fighting, the report said.

Ziad Hadia, Sirte's representative in the parliament based in eastern Libya, said more than 2,000 ISIL fighters are thought to be holed up in the city.

Foreign fighters, mostly from Tunisia and sub-Saharan Africans, account for more than 85 percent of the fighters, he added.

In comments published by French newspaper Journal du Dimanche, Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj said his government needs international intelligence and technical assistance to defeat ISIL, "not air strikes.”

Source: WN.com, Jack Durschlag