Libyan government forces advance in recapturing Sirte

Libyan forces allied with the U.N.-backed government have advanced on Islamic State militant position in Sirte.

The advance over two streets in Sirte’s third neighbourhood follows similar progress on Saturday when two other streets were taken over.

The residential neighbourhood had been used as a hideout by Islamic State militants.

Islamic State controls a residential strip less than 1 km (0.6 mile) long in their former stronghold in Sirte.

The five month long campaign by pro-government forces, backed by U.S. air strikes, is advancing building by building.

Since Thursday, Libyan forces led by brigades from Misrata have pressed further into Sirte’s third neighbourhood as an intensified aerial bombardment and a barrage of tank fire slowly dislodged militant sniper positions.

Militants were clinging to an area called Manara, a sub-district that if ceded, Misrata commanders said, would leave them exposed to defeat.