Twin terror attacks repulsed by Libyan forces in Sirte

Two terror attacks - one by Daesh fighters and another by forces led by commander Khalifa Haftar were repulsed by the forces loyal to Libya's Tripoli-based UN-backed unity government in the north-central city of Sirte.

"Our forces are fully prepared to meet any additional attacks by Daesh remnants or Al-Karama militiamen [pro-Haftar forces]," Anadolu News Agency quoted statement of forces affiliated with the unity government.

According to the same statement, the two attacks in Sirte that occurred on Wednesday evening were aimed at "destabilizing the city and threatening its security".

While pro-government forces were engaged in confronting an assault by Daesh terrorists south of Sirte, they had come under attack by pro-Haftar forces from the nearby Al-Heniwah and Abu Hadi districts on the city's outskirts.

Al-Karama militiamen [pro-Haftar forces] belongs to Field Marshal Khalifa Belqasim Haftar, who is a Libyan military officer and the head of the Libyan National Army, currently engaged in the Second Libyan Civil War. Haftar has been described as "Libya's most potent warlord," having fought "with and against nearly every significant faction" in Libya's conflicts.

"But our forces managed to repulse both attacks," the statement read, adding that no casualties had been sustained in the melee.

Libya has been locked in a state of violence since it slipped into turmoil following the 2011 ouster and death of former President Muammar Gaddafi.

After Gaddafi's death, the country's political divisions has created two rival seats of government one in Tobruk and another in Tripoli and numerous armed groups.

-ANI