Libyan troops find bodies of handcuffed ISIS fighters in Sirte

By

The Associated Press

Forces loyal to Libya’s UN-backed unity government fire from a tank in Sirte’s centre towards Ouagadougou as they advance to recapture the city from the Islamic State (IS) group jihadists on June 10, 2016. Forces loyal to Libya’s unity government fought streets battles with the Islamic State group as they pressed an offensive to recapture their coastal bastion. The loss of Sirte, the hometown of ousted dictator Moamer Kadhafi, would be a major blow to the jihadists at a time when they are under mounting pressure in Syria and Iraq. / AFP / MAHMUD TURKIA (Photo credit should read MAHMUD TURKIA/AFP/Getty Images)

CAIRO — A Libyan media official says pro-government forces fighting to dislodge the Islamic State group from its key bastion of Sirte have found bodies of militants, handcuffed and shot in the head, inside army barracks in the city

Ahmed Hadiya told The Associated Press on Friday that at least six bodies were found inside the al-Saadi barracks after the facility was overrun by the forces allied to the U.N.-brokered government.

He says he believes the bodies are of IS “militants who wanted to flee.”

He added that the offensive to capture the Mediterranean city is nearing its “final stage” and that IS fighters have hunkered down inside a sprawling convention center for the final showdown.

IS has exploited Libya’s turmoil to gain a foothold in the North African country.

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