Egypt partners with Google to promote 'unmatched diversity' tourism campaign    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Taiwan GDP surges on tech demand    World Bank: Global commodity prices to fall 17% by '26    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    UNFPA Egypt, Bayer sign agreement to promote reproductive health    Egypt to boost marine protection with new tech partnership    France's harmonised inflation eases slightly in April    Eygpt's El-Sherbiny directs new cities to brace for adverse weather    CBE governor meets Beijing delegation to discuss economic, financial cooperation    Egypt's investment authority GAFI hosts forum with China to link business, innovation leaders    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's Gypto Pharma, US Dawa Pharmaceuticals sign strategic alliance    Egypt's Foreign Minister calls new Somali counterpart, reaffirms support    "5,000 Years of Civilizational Dialogue" theme for Korea-Egypt 30th anniversary event    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Angola's Lourenço discuss ties, African security in Cairo talks    Egypt's Al-Mashat urges lower borrowing costs, more debt swaps at UN forum    Two new recycling projects launched in Egypt with EGP 1.7bn investment    Egypt's ambassador to Palestine congratulates Al-Sheikh on new senior state role    Egypt pleads before ICJ over Israel's obligations in occupied Palestine    Sudan conflict, bilateral ties dominate talks between Al-Sisi, Al-Burhan in Cairo    Cairo's Madinaty and Katameya Dunes Golf Courses set to host 2025 Pan Arab Golf Championship from May 7-10    Egypt's Ministry of Health launches trachoma elimination campaign in 7 governorates    EHA explores strategic partnership with Türkiye's Modest Group    Between Women Filmmakers' Caravan opens 5th round of Film Consultancy Programme for Arab filmmakers    Fourth Cairo Photo Week set for May, expanding across 14 Downtown locations    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Ancient military commander's tomb unearthed in Ismailia    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM praises ties with Tanzania    Egypt to host global celebration for Grand Egyptian Museum opening on July 3    Ancient Egyptian royal tomb unearthed in Sohag    Egypt hosts World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup in Somabay for 3rd consecutive year    Egyptian Minister praises Nile Basin consultations, voices GERD concerns    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Libyan Forces Edge Closer To Victory In Sirte
Published in Albawaba on 12 - 06 - 2016

Sky News joins fighters on the frontline of the battle against Islamic State in the crucial port city of Sirte, in Libya.
Commanders outside the besieged Islamic State stronghold of Sirte in Libya have told Sky News that the city could be liberated in the next few days.
Brigades of fighters from Misrata, who are loyal to the UN-backed unity government, have made significant advances over the last 20 days, killing many IS militants in the process.
At the main roundabout on the western side of Sirte, an IS flag - a symbol of cruelty - lies crumpled on the ground.
It is the same place where the terror group used to carry out public crucifixions.
Mohammed, a young fighter barely in his 20s, tells me that IS are not Muslims.
Fahim, who is aged in his 40s, agrees, adding that they have no place in Libya and Sirte will soon be free.
The men showed us the bodies of IS militants from Tunisia and Egypt. All of them were wearing suicide vests. They were killed before they could detonate their devices.
IS in Libya has now lost huge amounts of ground and is facing collapse inside the North African country, although experts say it will remain as an underground terror network.
After a month-long battle to take back the jihadist stronghold, IS leaders have fled into the desert - driven out by the Libyan unity government troops, helped by British and US experts.
On Saturday Libyan forces were fighting militants street by street in what they claimed was a final showdown.
A number of IS fighters remained holed up in the centre of the city - the birthplace of deposed dictator Muammar Gaddafi - where they were said to have set booby traps.
But the battle against IS involves huge sacrifices, with more than 130 men killed so far. More than 500 have been injured in the offensive.
Five years after the Arab Spring and many of the fighters on the battlefield are angry at what their country has become.
Wisam Omar, who is from Tripoli, says that IS is being used by Egypt to destabilise Libya and keep it weak.
There is no evidence of that but it epitomises the anger and frustration many people are feeling in the face such chaos.
It is of course a sharp contrast to the jubilation and hope felt during the uprising in 2011, which saw the dictator Gaddafi overthrown.
He was captured and killed in Sirte but the political mayhem that has ensued has left Libya teetering on the edge of perpetual conflict.
Commander Mohamed Darrat tells me senior operatives from Iraq brought with them expertise in terror, exploiting the security vacuum of the post-Gaddafi years.
He also said that if IS is not dislodged from its base in Libya, Europe will also end up paying a heavy price.
"If we don't stop them they will travel to Europe which is very close and they will take their anger out on people there.
"It will be a catastrophe for the European countries ISIS's life is all about death."


Clic here to read the story from its source.