By Ajnadin Mustafa.
Tripoli, 20 June 2015:
IS fighters appear to have taken heavy casualties in a daylong battle with the army outside . . .[restrict]of Derna. At least 15 were reported 15 killed and many others injured and captured.
The terrorists are understood to have launched a dawn raid on positions held by the 202 Battalion at Fataiah, 20 kilometres east of Derna. The district contains the university, a cement factory and farms.
Fierce fighting went on for much of the day after an attack which began around 5am. The army is saying that none of its men was killed and only one of its injured suffered serious wounds.
Other reports say that dozens of IS fighters perished, but also have it that the fighting was an attack by militias from Derna on the terrorists.
Yesterday evening, gunmen, said to be from IS, carried out an assassination in Derna. It is not yet clear why the victim, Mohammed Dandan, should have been targeted.
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