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Libyan troops suffer heavy casualties in clashes with ISIS in Sirte

Xinhua, June 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

Violent clashes between Libya's presidential guards and ISIS on Saturday in Sirte killed 11 government troops and injured 35 others, the military source said.

The government forces announced on Saturday that it took over Sirte's main sea port following clashes with the terrorist group.

Libya's UN-backed unity government has formed the presidential guards service in May to fight against the increased dominance of ISIS in Libya.

Since the beginning of the operation to restore the ISIS-dominated Sirte (some 450 km east the capital Tripoli), hundreds were killed and injured from both sides in violent clashes with the terrorist group.

Sirte has been controlled by ISIS affiliates since July 2015. The terrorist group has claimed responsibility for suicide bomb attacks and executions of foreign workers in Libya.

The presidential guards has made "significant progress that forced ISIS fighters to flee to east and north Sirte after taking complete control of the city's entrances", a military source said. Endit