Clashes Between ISIL, Rival Extremist Group in Libya Kill 25 Civilians

At least 25 civilians have been killed during a fighting between the Islamic State jihadist group and rival Islamist militants in the Libyan city of Sirte, the BBC reported on Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to the broadcaster, the crossfire claimed the lives of women and children as the clashes began on Monday.

ISIL seized Sirte, the hometown of the former long-time Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, earlier this year.

The rival Salafist Muslim group was backed by Sirte’s armed civilians, who refused to pledge allegiance to the Islamic State under penalty of death, the BBC said.