Car bomb, clashes with IS kill 18 Libya unity govt forces

Tripoli: Eighteen fighters loyal to Libya`s unity government were killed in clashes with Islamic State group jihadists and a car bombing Wednesday near the IS stronghold of Sirte, the military said.

An official in an operations room set up by the new Government of National Unity (GNA), asking not to be named, told AFP that "the toll is 18 martyrs and more than 20 wounded in the battles with IS militants and a car bombing".

Seven died in a car bomb attack in Buairat el-Hassun, 60 kilometres (35 miles) west of Sirte, the operations room said on its Facebook page. The others were killed in an IS foray in Abu Grein, further west, that the GNA recaptured on Tuesday.