THE MOMENT JIHADIS LAID DOWN ARMS ...AFTER SAS PAVED WAY
THIS is the dramatic moment when Libyan brigades backed by British special forces flushed out Islamic State terrorists in the strategic port city of Sirte last week.
The Libyan fighters have spent three months trying to flush out the terrorists from their hideouts in residential suburbs where residents are trapped. The British soldiers have been directing precision bombing raids launched by the US against IS positions.
The air strikes were requested by the head of the new UN-installed Government of National Accord, Fayez al-Serraj. Dozens of jihadis were killed or wounded as their positions were pounded.
Highly trained British JTACs – Joint Terminal Attack Controllers – had been concealed within a kilometre of the target area, identifying snipers and showing their location with laser dots that were only visible to the F16 pilots.
In one strike a 500lb bomb hit a second-floor window where up to five IS snipers had been seen. The explosion blew three holes in the side of the building and sent vaporising flames into the room, destroying everything and everyone in it.
Further strikes destroyed vehicles being used by terrorists attempting to drive out of Sirte.
Seven bombing raids were carried out last week, with Libyan Field Commander Mohamed Durant praising the American-British coalition for help to rid Sirte of jihadis who have had the city under their control for nearly two years.
He said: ‘We have been facing strong resistance, moving forward house by house. The air strikes are making our lives easier. We co-ordinate with the Americans and British. When they are targeting a site we move back, they strike, and we move forward further. Together we can complete this mission.’