Libyan troops find bodies of handcuffed IS fighters in Sirte

Warplanes of Libya’s unity government on Thursday bombed Islamic State group positions in Sirte as part of an offensive to retake the jihadist stronghold, the military said in a statement.

GNA forces are mostly made up of militias from western cities, including Misrata, that have sided with the GNA and the guards of oil installations that IS has repeatedly tried to seize.

Western nations have thrown their support behind the U.N. -backed government in hopes of ending the rivalry between authorities based in the capital, Tripoli, and in the country’s far east.

A tank belonging to forces aligned with Libya’s new unity government is seen on a road as they advance on the Islamic State stronghold of Sirte, in Libya June 8, 2016.

Left behind were also militant cell phones, ISIL paraphernalia and leaflets pledging allegiance to ISIL leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, according to a Misuratan who took photos of the items.

While impressive, USA military officials still believe the Government of National Accord has not proven they have cleared that bar, Mr. Cook said Thursday.

A militia commander, Ali bin Gharbiya, claimed in an audio message posted on Facebook that the victory against Islamic State militants in Sirte was quick.

Friday’s clashes raged around the Ouagadougou conference centre, a sprawling Kadhafi-era complex which once hosted Arab and African summits and which now houses an IS command centre. ISIS had turned it into its headquarters, raised its black banner over the center and held graduation ceremonies there for those who completed Islamic State-organized religious sessions.

ISIL militants unexpectedly showed little resistance once the militiamen pushed into their bastion.

Foreign intelligence services estimate ISIS has 5,000 fighters in Libya but its strength inside Sirte and the number of civilians living in the city are unavailable.

Daesh has been taking advantage of the chaos embroiling Libya since the NATO-backed overthrow of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi back in 2011. Libya meanwhile sunk deeper into turmoil, with the country’s feuding factions splitting it into two parliaments and rival governments.

Since the cancellation of a stalled Pentagon program to train and arm Libyan militias, Defense Department officials repeatedly have stated any effort to restart USA operations in Libya would depend on the stabilization of the country’s leadership.

Libya still has rival regional administrations and armed forces in the east and west of the country, with each battling extremist militants in their territories.

Aziz Issa, a hospital spokesperson in Misrata, east of Tripoli, said a total of 115 fighters had been killed and 300 wounded in the anti-ISIS assault since mid-May. Heavy fighting and air strikes have continued there over the past two days, with at least eight of Haftar’s forces killed, medical and security officials said.