By Libya Herald reporters.
Tripoli, 1 July 2016:
Bunyan Marsous forces have moved closer toward Ibn Sina hospital, the Ouagadougou Centre and Sirte University. Five men were reported killed and 63 injured as significant numbers of fighters pushed their way forward.
The main attack began early Friday morning and reportedly secured the “700” district by the evening and made into “100” district. Pressure on the terrorists had been maintained throughout the day. It is thought that an IS command post was destroyed but it is unclear how many terrorist leaders were hit.
Snipers and booby-traps continue to be a hazard in the advance but the terrorists have not used a feared-suicide vehicle bomber for over 48 hours. Footage posted by Bunyan Marsous shows fighters flowing forward backed up by fire from technicals and tanks. At one point they withdrew from an area near the Ouagadougou Centre as planes bombed it. This evening there was still heavy fighting in the Second district.
One commander said that morale among his men was high and that the battle was nearing its end. Other sources were more sanguine. One pointed out that even though Sirte had contained nothing like the 6,000 terrorists estimated by Washington, the few hundred who remained would not be easy to destroy.
Tonight, the Bunyan Marsous media office renewed a plea for international support to treat the seriously wounded.
Meanwhile Sirte residents from whose districts IS has been driven out are now receiving regular supplies of food and water. Locals are preparing substantial iftar meals in the open air and sharing them with nearby fighters.
