Anti-IS Forces Gain New Ground in Libya's Sirte; Libyan Troops Achieve a "New Victory" against IS

Fighters of Libya's unity government -- backed by U.S. air strikes -- have recaptured more ground from Islamic State (IS) jihadists holed up in the center of the coastal city of Sirte, the AFP (Agence France-Presse) website reports today (August 22, 2016).

A statement by the Libyan government said "the new victory" was achieved in clashes which raged all day on August 21 in the face of "desperate resistance by the jihadists."

IS sniper positions were "neutralized" in two U.S. air strikes... "without loss in our ranks," it added.

However, 12 government fighters were killed and 85 wounded in yesterday's clashes, the hospital in Misrata said.