DHAKA: Libyan pro-government forces say they have captured the headquarters of Islamic State (IS) of Iraq and Syria in Sirte, scoring a major victory in the group’s last stronghold in the country.

The fighters, mainly from the nearby city of Misrata, who were supported by US air strikes, said in a Facebook statement on Wednesday: “Sirte is returning to Libya” after taking over a convention centre that served as IS’s base.

“Our forces have complete control of the whole of the Ouagadougou complex - they even advanced some distance beyond the complex,” said Rida Issa, a government spokesman.

“I am standing inside the walls of the Presidential Palaces, or the so-called Protocol Palaces in Sirte,” Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Khalifa, reporting from Sirte, said.

“This entire area once under the total control of ISIL fighters is now in the firm grip of Al Bonyan Brigade fighters. The aftermath of fierce fighting seems clearly visible on these buildings.”

The militia, which started the offensive in June, said they had also advanced to a cluster of unfinished blocks just west of the centre of Sirte, known as the “bone buildings”, which had been used by IS snipers.

At least 16 fighters from government-backed forces were killed and 11 wounded, Issa said.

BDST: 1916 HRS, AUG 11, 2016
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