Libyan forces step up patrols to stop Daesh regrouping

MISRATA, Libya — Libya forces allied with UN-backed government who last year defeated the Daesh terror group in Sirte are increasing patrols to stop the militants regrouping and threatening to launch attacks on the port city of Misrata, a military commander said.

The forces, mainly brigades from Misrata drove Daesh from Sirte at the end of last year after a six-month campaign backed by US air strikes. Daesh took over the city in 2015 taking advantage of Libya's political chaos.

"We have spotted movements by Daesh in the south of Sirte, where they are trying to regroup and break through our forces' lines in the south," said Mohamed Ghasri, spokesman for the "Al Bunyan Al Marsous" forces in Misrata.

Ghasri gave no details of numbers of fighters estimated in the south of Sirte. But he said Misrata forces had lacked support from the international community since defeating Daesh last year.

French officials fear Daesh militants and other extremists could try to exploit any power vacuum in Libya to regroup after losing ground in Syria and Iraq.

The Misrata forces took the fight to Sirte after Daesh took over the city nearly two years ago and launched attacks on nearby oilfields and threatened Misrata, a major port city and home to one of Libya's most powerful armed factions.