IS affiliates set up checkpoint near Libya's Sirte

TRIPOLI, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic State (IS) militants on Wednesday set up a checkpoint near the Libyan town of Jurfa, which is close to the former IS affiliates' stronghold of Sirte, in search of soldiers and security personnel.

"IS militants set up a checkpoint on the road to Jufra near Sirte. They keep moving the checkpoint," a security source told Xinhua.

"A number of civilian driving by confirmed today that IS fighters stop them. Three armed vehicles belonging to the terrorists were on both sides of the road. They searched the civilians' vehicles and checked their identities, in search of soldiers or security elements," the source added.

The militants are exploiting cold weather to carry out quick operations, as only a small number of security patrols are present in such times, the source explained.

In December 2015, forces allied with the UN-backed Libyan government defeated the IS affiliates and expelled them from Sirte, some 450 km east to the capital Tripoli. The remnant IS fighters fled to the southern valleys and mountainous areas ever since.

The terrorists have from time to time, set up mobile checkpoints on the road leading to southern cities and have been scrutinizing passing civilian cars in search of soldiers or security personnel to kidnap, according to reports. Enditem