Libyan forces on Monday took control of the final cluster of buildings that were still held by Islamic State militants in Sirte, a former North African stronghold of the terror group.
The militants took over the city in early 2015, setting up its most important base outside the Middle East and extending its control along about 250 kilometers of the Mediterranean coastline.
Forces led by brigades from the western city of Misrata launched a counter-attack against the jihadist group in May, and since Aug. 1 the United States has carried out at least 470 air strikes to support them.
Reuters reports spokesman Rida Issa to say that forces led by brigades from Misrata and backed by U.S. air strikes now “control all of Sirte’s Ghiza Bahriya neighbourhood and are still securing the area”.
In recent days, Libyan forces say dozens of women and children have left the last group of buildings controlled by militants.
The presence of the families has been one of the factors complicating attempts to push forward into the final sliver of land held by Islamic State, and several women carried out suicide attacks as they were being granted safe passage.
