By Libya Herald reporter.
Tripoli, 9 March 2016:
Islamic State (IS) fighters have again attacked at checkpoint in the Abu Grain area, some 100 . . .[restrict]kilometres south of Misrata. According to one report four Misratan troops from Central Libya Shield were killed in fighting there. Another said three troops died, two from Misrata and one from Tripoli, but that others were wounded before the Misratans re-established control over the checkpoint. The IS forces, however, managed to escape.
This is not the first time that IS has attacked the checkpoint. It last did so just over five weeks ago. The small village near the crossroads of the coastal highway and the road south to Waddan and Shwayrif, is said to be in the hands of IS forces but the checkout some ten kilometres further west is the last Misratan checkpoint before heading into IS-controlled territory. Last summer, IS reportedly killed three Misratan guards when it attacked the checkpoint.
It is known that IS fighters have used a circuitous desert track route from passing not far from Abu Grain when travelling between Derna and Sirte.
There were earlier reports that forces from Zintan were also involved in the clash. However, this was not the case although there are unconfirmed reports indicting a separate similar incident also involving IS forces south of Mizdah in which a policeman was kidnapped. [/restrict]
