Libya Prime Minister calls for unity behind anti-IS Sirte offensive

Forces loyal to Libya’s UN-backed unity government clash with jihadists in the city of Sirte, 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of Tripoli, during an operation to recapture the city from the Islamic State (IS) group, on June 12, 2016.

Forces allied with Libya’s unity government, who entered Sirte on June 8 and have been advancing more quickly than expected against IS, which seized control of the coastal city last year and turned it into its main base of operations in North Africa, have faced fierce resistance including a series of suicide car bombings. / AFP PHOTO / STRINGER

The head of Libya’s unity government Tuesday urged Libyans to rally behind the battle against jihadists in Sirte, as the UN approved an operation to stop the flood of weapons into the country.



Pro-government forces are fighting to oust the Islamic State group from Sirte, whose fall would be a major setback for the extremists who have also lost territory in Syria and Iraq.

The UN Security Council unanimously authorised a European Union naval mission to enforce an arms embargo on the country and expand Operation Sophia which has been combating migrant-smuggling.