(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff)
South of the city of Misrata has become a war zone between the Libyan Army and ISIS militants and the Government of National Accord (GNA) has banned civilians from the Abu Grein area after two trucks packed with explosives detonated at the checkpoint located between Misrata and ISIS held Sirte.
The Libyan Army’s media center for their military operation against ISIS called “Al-Bunyan Al-Marsoos” stated on Tuesday that 6 soldiers were killed and 17 were injured in ongoing clashes with ISIS forces, nearly 50 kilometres from Sirte.
A Libyan soldier told Aljazeera that he was hit by a bullet when he and other pro-unity government fighters were caught in an ISIS attack southeast of Misrata.
“We were Flanked by the enemy from three sides and only had the region out back. After heavy fighting fighters with light guns started to pull out. I was hit with a bullet while getting on to the vehicle,” said the soldier.
Injured soldiers were taken to a hospital in Misrata for treatment, despite the fact that the hospital reported that it was running short on supplies. Soldiers with critical injuries have been flown by the Italian Air Force to a military hospital in Rome to get treatment for their injuries.
The battle comes two weeks after ISIS forces took over regions near Misrata from their base in Sirte in surprise suicide attacks.
World powers have agreed to provide the GNA with weapons to help in their fight against ISIS.
