The Fight Against ISIS in Libya

Alan Taylor
August 9, 2016
20 Photos
In Focus

As my colleague Dominic Tierney points out, the United States has now picked a side in Libya’s civil war—the UN-backed, internationally recognized, Government of National Accord (GNA)—and has begun coordinated airstrikes against ISIS positions in Libya. However, ISIS and the GNA are only two of dozens of competing militias and groups involved in the chaotic struggle to gain control of Libya since the fall of Muammar Qaddafi in 2011. Reuters photographer Goran Tomasevic has spent much of the past two months in Libya with fighters loyal to the GNA, mostly brigades from Misrata, as they waged ground battles with ISIS in the town of Sirte. Tomasevic: "When everyone shouts 'Allahu Akbar' (God is Great) I know that a tank or a cannon will fire."

Hints: View this page full screen. Skip to the next and previous photo by typing j/k or ←/→.

Fighters of Libyan forces allied with the U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) fire a rocket at Islamic State fighters in Sirte, Libya, on August 4, 2016. #

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Read more
Libyan forces allied with the U.N.-backed government wait for a rocket to be fired at Islamic State fighters in Sirte, Libya, on August 4, 2016. #

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Read more
A fighter of Libyan forces allied with the GNA fires a rife at ISIS fighters during a battle in Sirte, Libya, on July 31, 2016. #

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Read more
A member of Libyan forces allied with the GNA carries a 122 mm tank shell on top of a Soviet-made T-55 tank in Sirte on August 2, 2016. #

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Read more
A fighter allied with the U.N.-backed government fires a shell with a T-55 tank toward ISIS fighters in Sirte on August 2, 2016. #

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Read more
Libyan forces allied with the U.N.-backed government fire weapons during a battle in Sirte on July 15, 2016. #

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Read more
Libyan forces allied with the U.N.-backed government look at the positions of ISIS fighters in the West part of Sirte on July 19, 2016. #

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Read more
A member of Libyan forces allied with the GNA smokes during a battle with ISIS in Sirte on July 31, 2016. #

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Read more
Libyan forces fire a shell with a T-55 tank toward ISIS fighters from a beach in Sirte on August 3, 2016. #

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Read more
A Libyan forces fighter prays in front of his sniper rifle during a battle with ISIS in Sirte on July 21, 2016. #

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Read more
A fighter with Libyan forces allied with the GNA runs for cover during a battle with ISIS in Sirte on July 31, 2016. #

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Read more
Libyan forces fire weapons during a battle with ISIS in Sirte on July 21, 2016. #

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Read more
Pieces of bricks fly off the wall as ISIS fighters open fire at Libyan forces allied with the U.N.-backed government during a battle in Sirte on July 31, 2016. #

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Read more
A Libyan forces fighter runs for cover with another fighter while carrying a wounded fighter during a battle with ISIS in Sirte on July 31, 2016. #

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Read more
Libyan forces allied with the GNA fire weapons during a battle with ISIS in Sirte on July 15, 2016. #

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Read more
A Libyan forces fighter uses a compass to adjust the line of fire for a 81 mm mortar in Sirte on July 25, 2016. #

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Read more
Fighters allied with the GNA fire a 122 MM howitzer towards ISIS positions in Sirte on July 24, 2016. #

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Read more
A fighter for the Libyan government shows a disarmed antipersonnel mine planted by ISIS fighters in Sirte on July 31, 2016. #

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Read more
A Libyan forces fighter uses a drone to observe ISIS positions in Sirte on July 26, 2016. #

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Read more
Fighters of Libyan forces allied with the U.N.-backed government fire a rocket at ISIS fighters in Sirte, Libya, on August 4, 2016. #

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

Read more