IS briefly takes center of strategic Libyan city
A top Libyan army commander says Islamic State affiliates briefly took the center of Sabratha, a western city and hub of migrants heading to Europe.
Taher al-Gharabili told The Associated Press that his troops forced the IS militants to retreat early Wednesday morning.
Al-Gharabili said the gunmen "exploited a security vacuum" by deploying in the city center as the military was occupied conducting raids elsewhere. He added that the IS gunmen left behind 12 beheaded bodies of members of the security forces.
Last week, US airstrikes killed dozens of suspected militants in the city along with two Serbian hostages kidnapped last year
