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Libya: ISIS all but defeated in Moammar Gadhafi's hometown
Libya: ISIS all but defeated in Moammar Gadhafi's hometown
ISIS loses control of Libyan stronghold 02:11
Story highlights
- Operation to clear ISIS from the coastal city began three months ago
- Official: About 150 to 200 terrorists still in two districts in Sirte
(CNN)ISIS
is on the brink of being kicked out of the coastal Libyan city of Sirte
-- the extremist group's most significant stronghold outside Syria and
Iraq.
Forces loyal to the the
U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, already in
control of most of the city, liberated one of only three remaining
districts under ISIS control on Tuesday, a security official told CNN
Wednesday.
Col.
Ismail Shukri, head of Intelligence for the Tripoli government in
Misrata -- 167 miles (270km) to the north-west of Sirte -- told CNN
their forces had captured a neighborhood from ISIS in Sirte designated
"District 2," leaving only "Districts 1 and 3" under ISIS control.
Government of National Accord forces advance into an ISIS-held district of Sirte on August 14.
"Now
there is ongoing fighting in one part of District 1. Districts 1 and 3
are both residential areas adjacent to each other and we will
soon advance on them," he said.
"There
are about 150 to 200 terrorists still in these districts," he added.
"There is no room for them to escape. They will fight until the last
bullet. They had an opportunity to escape earlier but now they
are surrounded."
ISIS losing ground in home base, expanding elsewhere 04:03
He added that the operation has air support from the US-led coalition.
Fierce resistance
Libyan
forces started the campaign to liberate the Mediterranean city -- best
known as Moammar Gadhafi's hometown before it fell into the hands of
ISIS -- three months ago.
Government of National Accord forces have been fighting in Sirte for three months.
The
operation has not been easy, however, with Libyan forces encountering
fierce resistance, including numerous suicide car bombs.
The
extremist group gained a foothold in the country in a power vacuum that
hasn't been filled since collapse of Gadhafi's regime collapsed in
2011.
ISIS eyeing Libya oil 02:32
Following
the Arab Spring, there were hopes that Libya would follow a more
democratic path like its neighbor, Tunisia. But warring factions soon
split over how to run the country, and civil war ensued.
Two rival sides claimed to be the rightful leaders before signing a U.N.-backed peace deal in December.
US officials estimate there are 4,000 to 6,000 ISIS militants in the country.
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