(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff)
On Monday Albinyan Almarsous, the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA)’s military operation in Sirte, reports heavy and strategic fighting for its forces against the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) Sirte’s downtown area. The GNA forces followed intelligence they had leading them to a specific location for ISIS’s operations and control room as well as a storage facility for ammunition and machinery.
GNA forces continue to advance against ISIS after gaining full control of a neighbourhood in Sirte known as 700 on Friday. That was made possible after ISIS snipers were taken out.
A group of ISIS fighters attempted to flee but were captured by GNA forces who also confiscated the their weapons.
Advances on Friday were also made in the direction of Ouagadougou Hall after a coordinated offence by the GNA forces in the air and on the ground. GNA fighters on the ground began the fight with ISIS but would retreat when the GNA air force launched an air raid. The GNA air force was able to launch nine air raids on ISIS with four of them being directed at Ouagadougou Hall and the area around it.
On Friday GNA forces also gained control of a strategic roundabout known as Taweela in an advance towards Sirte’s ports.
As GNA forces gain grounds, military engineers have cleared controlled spaces from landmines and any other explosives.
Albinyan Almarsous called Friday’s advances “the first complete victory” against ISIS in Libya.