Libyan pro-government forces have freed five foreign nationals held by Islamic State in Sirte after heavy fighting in their battle to capture the final district of the city, a local official said on Thursday. Islamic State took over Sirte more than a year ago, profiting from chaos caused by infighting among rival brigades of Libyan forces who once battled together to oust Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, but steadily turned against each other. “There was a desperate resistance by Daesh, but it was confronted by heavy weapons,” Issa said, using one of the Arabic names for Islamic State. No details were given about how or where the five foreigners where captured, but Islamic State has attacked oilfields and kidnapped foreign workers over the last two years. A victory in Sirte for Misrata forces is already pressuring military rivals in the east who oppose the Tripoli government.

Source: Libya Today October 20, 2016 22:30 UTC