Image: A fighter of Libyan forces allied with the U.N.-backed government speaks on a communication device near the eastern frontline of fighting with Islamic State militants, in Sirte, Libya, October 20, 2016.
SIRTE, Libya (Reuters) – Libyan pro-government forces have freed five foreign nationals held by Islamic State in Sirte after heavy fighting to capture the final district of the city, a local official said on Thursday.
Two of the freed foreigners were from Turkey, two from India and one from Bangladesh, said Rida Issa, a spokesman for the Bonyan Marsous forces which have been battling for six months against Islamic State in Sirte.
It was not clear when or where the five where captured, but Islamic State has attacked oilfields and kidnapped foreign workers over the last two years, taking advantage of chaos and infighting among Libya’s rival factions to gain territory.
(Reporting by Ismail Zitouni in Sirte; Ahmed Elumami in Tripoli; Writing by Patrick Markey; Editing by Louise Ireland)
Copyright 2016 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.
