13 foreigners freed in Sirte by Libyan government forces

An Egyptian, a Turk and eleven Eritreans were released on Saturday by forces of the Libyan government of national unity (GNA) during an offensive to retake Sirte from the Islamic State group (IS).

The forces said in a statement that eleven women among them were believed to have been imprisoned by the jihadists.

The pro-GNA forces also managed to capture a “zone after three days of fighting with Daesh in areas that were besieged”, they added, noting that “search operations are underway.”

The Sirte reconquest operation has progressed since it was launched on May 12 by loyalist forces regularly conducting offensives. The pro-GNA forces have regained most of Sirte, which is a stronghold of the IS, located 450 km east of Tripoli, recording over 550 deaths and some 3,000 wounded in their ranks.

The death toll in the ranks of the IS fighters is unknown.