At Least 14 Servicemen Killed in Clashes With Daesh in Southern Libya

At least 14 servicemen loyal to Libya’s National Army were killed in clashes with militants of the Daesh terrorist group (outlawed in Russia) in southern Libya, media reported on Wednesday, citing a Libyan military source.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The source on conditions of anonymity told the Anadolu news agency that the Daesh militants attacked the gate of the Libyan town of Fuqaha.

The Daesh has not claimed responsibility for the attack yet, according to the news agency.

Libya has been in a state of turmoil since 2011, when a civil war broke out in the country and long-standing leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown. The country was contested by two rival governments — the internationally-recognized Council of Deputies based in Tobruk and the Tripoli-based General National Congress. In December 2015, the rival governments agreed to create the Government of National Accord (GNA), which started to work in March 2016 and is headed by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj.

The internal conflict and instability prompted the advance of several militant and terrorist groups, which have established control over different parts of Libya.