Libyan forces advance in push on Islamic State strongholds

CAIRO – Libyan forces loyal to the country's U.N.-brokered government are advancing in a push on two key Islamic State strongholds.

Salem Jedran, the mayor of the town of Ajdabiya, says the troops with the so-called Petroleum Facilities Guards are advancing on the town of Bin Jawad, which fell under IS in January.

Jedran says clashes are underway on Monday in the eastern outskirts of the town. Bin Jawad is 160 kilometers (99 miles) from the central city of Sirte, the main IS bastion in Libya.

Elsewhere, Libyan militiamen from the western city of Misrata — who are also loyal to the U.N. government — are pushing toward Sirte, the militant group's main stronghold.

The militia's media office says the fighters are now nearly 30 kilometers (18 miles) from Sirte's city center.