Clearing Sirte of Islamic State weapons

As Libyan forces allied to the U.N.-backed unity government continue with their campaign to oust the Islamic State out of Sirte, a cleaning up exercise began Monday.

It entailed discarding weapons used by the Islamist militants in the recently captured areas of the embattled city.

The weapons left behind include explosive devices, land mines, explosive belts and missiles, all found with the help of bomb squads.

“With the participation of forces assigned with the liberation of Sirte, we removed land mines and explosives from their path. We were able, by the grace of God, to remove all explosive devices planted by the enemy,” said Aly Abu-Garoud, member of the bomb squad.

Libyan forces said they had advanced against some of Islamic State’s last holdouts in Sirte on Saturday as fighting resumed after several days of relative calm.