Libyan security forces pursue IS remnants near Sirte

TRIPOLI, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Libyan UN-backed government's forces on Friday said that patrols were carried out in pursuit of IS remnants near the city of Sirte.

"Sirte's security forces carried out routine patrol missions to pursue IS remnants to secure valleys in southern Sirte," the Information Office of the government forces said in its official Facebook page.

The Information Office confirmed that the operation took place over three consecutive days.

The office published images of a number of military vehicles patrolling desert and valleys of Sirte.

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