A Dutch journalist has been killed while covering a government-backed offensive against the Isis jihadist group in the city of Sirte, a medical official has said.

Photojournalist Jeroen Oerlemans was shot in the chest by an Isis militant, according to the AFP news agency.

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Dr Akram Gliwan, spokesman for a hospital in Misrata where pro-government fighters are treated, said the photographer was “shot in the chest by an IS sniper while covering battles in Sirte,” 280 miles east of Tripoli.

Mr Gliwan added that his body had been transferred to Misrata, 200 kilometres west of Isis’s Libyan stronghold of Sirte.

Mr Oerlemans had been working in Libya for a number of organisations, including the Belgian weekly Knack magazine, which confirmed his death.

A message posted on Knack's website said Mr Oerlemans was shot on a reporting assignment and that the publication “wishes his family much strength”.

Forces allied with Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord launched an assault against the jihadist bastion in May.

The Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous media office revealed its forces lost eight fighters in the fight against Isis militants Sunday, in addition to more than 50 injuries, according to the Libyan Express.

The report also stated that 10 Isis terrorists were also killed in Sunday attacks.

Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: Isis' Libyan stronghold of Sirte Show all 10 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: Isis' Libyan stronghold of Sirte 1/10 Isis in Sirte Isis fighters parade through in Sirte in 2015 2/10 Isis in Sirte Islamic State (IS) group jihadists on the outskirts of Libya's western city of Sirte AFP/Getty 3/10 Isis in Sirte A photo of a billboard in Sirte, Libya, listing seven rules for women's clothing, saying they must be loose-fitting and undecorated HRW/social media 4/10 Isis in Sirte Isis militants process down a street in the coastal city of Sirte in Libya this week; the group has heralded Libya as its ‘strategic gateway’ to attack Europe AFP/Getty Images 5/10 Isis in Sirte An Isis lecture on Sharia at the Ouagadougou complex in Sirte, Libya, in 2016. HRW/social media 6/10 Isis in Sirte A sign reading "The city of Sirte, under the shadow of Sharia" as smoke rises in the background while forces aligned with Libya's new unity government advance on the eastern and southern outskirts of the Islamic State stronghold of Sirte on 9 June. Reuters 7/10 Isis in Sirte Fighters loyal to Libya's GNA prepare to launch attacks against Isis as they continue their resistance on the outskirts of the western city of Sirte Getty 8/10 Isis in Sirte Forces loyal to Libya's UN-backed unity government are seen during clashes with jihadists of the Islamic State (IS) on the western outskirts of Sirte on June 2, 2016. AFP/Getty Images 9/10 Isis in Sirte Forces loyal to Libya's UN-backed unity government fire during clashes with Isis around 14 miles west of Sirte on June 2, 2016. AFP/Getty Images 10/10 Isis in Libya 1/10 Isis in Sirte Isis fighters parade through in Sirte in 2015 2/10 Isis in Sirte Islamic State (IS) group jihadists on the outskirts of Libya's western city of Sirte AFP/Getty 3/10 Isis in Sirte A photo of a billboard in Sirte, Libya, listing seven rules for women's clothing, saying they must be loose-fitting and undecorated HRW/social media 4/10 Isis in Sirte Isis militants process down a street in the coastal city of Sirte in Libya this week; the group has heralded Libya as its ‘strategic gateway’ to attack Europe AFP/Getty Images 5/10 Isis in Sirte An Isis lecture on Sharia at the Ouagadougou complex in Sirte, Libya, in 2016. HRW/social media 6/10 Isis in Sirte A sign reading "The city of Sirte, under the shadow of Sharia" as smoke rises in the background while forces aligned with Libya's new unity government advance on the eastern and southern outskirts of the Islamic State stronghold of Sirte on 9 June. Reuters 7/10 Isis in Sirte Fighters loyal to Libya's GNA prepare to launch attacks against Isis as they continue their resistance on the outskirts of the western city of Sirte Getty 8/10 Isis in Sirte Forces loyal to Libya's UN-backed unity government are seen during clashes with jihadists of the Islamic State (IS) on the western outskirts of Sirte on June 2, 2016. AFP/Getty Images 9/10 Isis in Sirte Forces loyal to Libya's UN-backed unity government fire during clashes with Isis around 14 miles west of Sirte on June 2, 2016. AFP/Getty Images 10/10 Isis in Libya

Isis took control of Sirte – Gaddafi's hometown – last year. The militant group turned the city into its North African stronghold, extending its control along Libya's coastline.

A recent report by the UK’s Foreign Affairs Committee claimed Britain’s intervention in Libya and the chaos and bloodshed that ensued sparked helped strengthen Isis and al-Qaeda, as well as fuelling conflicts across Africa and the Middle East.

The scathing report held David Cameron “ultimately responsible” for failing to stabilise Libya after the death of Muammar Gaddafi.</s>Dutch journalist Jeroen Oerlemans, who was covering the clashes in Sirte for the Belgian weekly Knack, was shot dead on Sunday by an Islamic State (IS) sniper.

Mr. Oerlemans became the second journalist killed in the fighting in Sirte after Abdelqader Fsouk, a Libyan who died in July. In 2012, Mr. Oerlemans was kidnapped in Syria by militants, but released after a week.

The Netherlands’s Ambassador to Libya, Eric Strating, saluted Mr. Oerlemans’ work when tweeting condolences.

Meanwhile, forces loyal to Libya’s unity government said on Monday at least 80 jihadists were killed at the weekend in the city of Sirte, a former stronghold of the IS.

Forces loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA), who reported eight soldiers killed and 57 wounded on Sunday, said vehicles, arms and ammunition were seized in the latest round of an assault launched on May 12 and executed in phases to recapture Sirte from IS.</s>Fighters loyal to Libya’s Government of National Accord help a wounded comrade after he was shot by a Daesh sniper on the western frontline in Sirte on Sunday (AFP photo)

TRIPOLI — A Dutch journalist was killed by sniper fire on Sunday while covering clashes in Libya’s coastal city of Sirte, as unity government forces battled the Daesh terror group holdouts in the city.

Dr Akram Gliwan, spokesman for a hospital in Misrata where pro-government fighters are treated, told AFP that photographer Jeroen Oerlemans was “shot in the chest by a Daesh sniper while covering battles in Sirte”, 450 kilometres east of Tripoli.

Gliwan said his body had been transferred to Misrata, 200 kilometres west of Sirte.

Oerlemans was working in Libya for a number of organisations, including the Belgian weekly Knack magazine, which confirmed his death.

A message on Knack’s website said Oerlemans was shot while on a reporting assignment and that the publication “wishes his family much strength”.

“Oerlemans is a journalist who went where others would not go. He was driven to bring us the news through his pictures especially from the world’s trouble spots,” Koenders said in a statement.

“That he has now paid the highest price is incredibly sad. I wish his wife, children and family every strength at this great loss. A great photographer is gone.”

Forces allied with Libya’s UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) launched an assault against the extremists in Sirte in May.

Daesh militants holed up in the town, birthplace of ousted Libyan dictator Muammar Qadhafi, responded with suicide bombings and sniper fire, slowing the government-backed advance.

Fighting on Sunday killed at least 10 Daesh militants and eight pro-government fighters around the extremist bastion, the unity government in Tripoli said.

Pro-government forces said they were “progressing” in Sirte, where they have surrounded Daesh militants, prompting some to try to escape.

They said loyalist fighters had recovered the bodies of at least 10 militants and were chasing another group that had fled Sirte.

Eight soldiers loyal to the GNA were killed, according to the Facebook page of a field hospital set up by their forces in Sirte.

Fifty-seven members of the pro-GNA forces were wounded and transferred to the main hospital in Misrata.

Daesh said on Twitter that it had killed or wounded 64 members of the pro-GNA forces.

On Saturday, GNA aircraft conducted six sorties in preparation for an advance on the extremists’ hideout in the city’s east, said the GNA statement.

American aircraft have also carried out some 177 air strikes since early August in support of GNA forces, according to US Africa Command.

The fighting has left more than 450 GNA fighters dead and 2,500 wounded. The Daesh death toll is not known.

A Daesh defeat in Sirte would be a serious blow to the group, which has faced major setbacks in Iraq and Syria in recent months.

Libya was plunged into chaos following the NATO-backed ouster of Qadhafi in 2011, and the control of the country — as well as access to its vital oil wealth — is divided between rival governments and militias.

The GNA was formed following a UN-backed deal in December 2015, but it has struggled to impose its power across the country.

Oerlemans was the second journalist to be killed in the Sirte offensive, after Libyan journalist Abdelqader Fsouk was killed there in July.

British war photographer Tim Hetherington was killed in April 2011 in a mortar attack in the western Libyan city of Misrata.

He died alongside Chris Hondros, a 41-year-old US photographer for Getty, as the pair covered intense fighting between Qadhafi’s forces and rebels.</s>A fighter loyal to Libya's Government of National Accord fires his weapon in the coastal city of Sirte on September 29, 2016. By Fabio Bucciarelli (AFP/File)

Tripoli (AFP) - A Dutch journalist was killed by sniper fire Sunday while covering clashes in Libya's coastal city of Sirte, as unity government forces battled Islamic State group holdouts in the jihadist bastion.

Dr Akram Gliwan, spokesman for a hospital in Misrata where pro-government fighters are treated, told AFP that photographer Jeroen Oerlemans was "shot in the chest by an IS sniper while covering battles in Sirte" 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of Tripoli.

Gliwan said his body had been transferred to Misrata, 200 kilometres west of Sirte.

Oerlemans was working in Libya for a number of organisations, including the Belgian weekly Knack magazine, which confirmed his death.

A message on Knack's website said Oerlemans was shot on a reporting assignment and that the publication "wishes his family much strength".

Forces allied with Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord launched an assault against the jihadists in Sirte in May.

IS fighters holed up in the town, birthplace of ousted Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi, responded with suicide bombings and sniper fire, slowing the government-backed advance.

Fighting on Sunday killed at least 10 IS fighters and eight pro-government fighters around the jihadist bastion, the unity government in Tripoli said.

Pro-government forces said they were "progressing" in Sirte, where they have surrounded IS militants, prompting some to try to escape.

They said loyalist fighters had recovered the bodies of at least 10 jihadists and were chasing another group that had fled Sirte.

Eight soldiers loyal to the GNA were killed, according to the Facebook page of a field hospital set up by their forces in Sirte.

Fifty-seven members of the pro-GNA forces were wounded and transferred to the main hospital in Misrata.

IS said on Twitter that it had killed or wounded 64 members of the pro-GNA forces.

On Saturday, GNA aircraft conducted six sorties in preparation for an advance on the jihadists' hideout in the city's east, said the GNA statement.

American aircraft have also carried out some 177 air strikes since early August in support of GNA forces, according to US Africa Command (AFRICOM).

The fighting has left more than 450 GNA fighters dead and 2,500 wounded. The IS death toll is not known.

An IS defeat in Sirte would be a serious blow to the group, which has faced major setbacks in Iraq and Syria in recent months.

Libya was plunged into chaos following the NATO-backed ouster of Kadhafi in 2011, and the control of the country -- as well as access to its vital oil wealth -- is divided between rival governments and militias.

The GNA was formed following a UN-backed deal in December 2015, but it has struggled to impose its power across a country.

Oerlemans was the second journalist to be killed in the Sirte offensive, after Libyan journalist Abdelqader Fsouk was killed there in July.

British war photographer Tim Hetherington was killed in April 2011 in a mortar attack in the western Libyan city of Misrata.

He died alongside Chris Hondros, a 41-year-old US photographer for Getty, as the pair covered intense fighting between Kadhafi's forces and rebels.</s>A Dutch journalist has been killed while covering a government-backed offensive against the Isis jihadist group in the city of Sirte, a medical official has said.

Photojournalist Jeroen Oerlemans was shot in the chest by an Isis militant, according to the AFP news agency.

Dr Akram Gliwan, spokesman for a hospital in Misrata where pro-government fighters are treated, said the photographer was “shot in the chest by an IS sniper while covering battles in Sirte,” 280 miles east of Tripoli.

Mr Gliwan added that his body had been transferred to Misrata, 200 kilometres west of Isis’s Libyan stronghold of Sirte.

Mr Oerlemans had been working in Libya for a number of organisations, including the Belgian weekly Knack magazine, which confirmed his death.

A message posted on Knack's website said Mr Oerlemans was shot on a reporting assignment and that the publication “wishes his family much strength”.

Forces allied with Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord launched an assault against the jihadist bastion in May.

The Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous media office revealed its forces lost eight fighters in the fight against Isis militants Sunday, in addition to more than 50 injuries, according to the Libyan Express.

The report also stated that 10 Isis terrorists were also killed in Sunday attacks.

Isis took control of Sirte – Gaddafi's hometown – last year. The militant group turned the city into its North African stronghold, extending its control along Libya's coastline.

A recent report by the UK’s Foreign Affairs Committee claimed Britain’s intervention in Libya and the chaos and bloodshed that ensued sparked helped strengthen Isis and al-Qaeda, as well as fuelling conflicts across Africa and the Middle East.

The scathing report held David Cameron “ultimately responsible” for failing to stabilise Libya after the death of Muammar Gaddafi.</s>Freelance photojournalist Jeroen Oerlemans was shot in the chest and died immediately, said the spokesman, Reda Essa.

In 2012, Oerlemans was kidnapped in Syria by militants, but released after a week.

The Netherlands' ambassador to Libya, Eric Strating, saluted Oerlemans' work when tweeting condolences.

The Committee to Protect Journalists noted that Oerlemans' death marked at least the 10th journalist, along with one media worker, killed in the Libyan conflict since it began in 2011.

"Journalists have recently begun returning in greater numbers to Libya to cover the conflict and political upheaval but it remains an extraordinarily dangerous place," said CPJ Deputy Executive Director Robert Mahoney. "The death of Jeroen Oerlemans is a reminder that those who bring us images and video from the front lines often pay the heaviest price." Smoke rises after a September 28 airstrike on Sirte, the last stronghold of ISIS in the north African country Oerelmans and another photojournalist, John Cantlie, who worked for the Sunday Times of London, were held by militants in Syria from July 17-26, 2012 . A Briton, Shajul Islam, was accused in a British court of having "unlawfully and injuriously imprisoned" the two photographers. The coastal city of Sirte is one of ISIS' last strongholds in Libya, and US-backed militias have been conducting an offensive that has put it in danger of losing the foothold. Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous is the umbrella organization for the militias' military offensive in Sirte. Consequently, ISIS snipers as well as IEDs have been playing even more of a role as the jihadist forces have dug in to their shrinking territory. One doctor explained that ISIS fighters are trying to make sure their targets -- if they don't die -- will not be able to fight again. "The snipers attack usually the spine here. They choose to fire at the spine because brain injury and heart injury if he survived, he's going to fight again," Nabeel Aqoub, a doctor working in Sirte, told CNN in September.</s>A fighter loyal to Libya's Government of National Accord fires his weapon in the coastal city of Sirte on September 29, 2016. By Fabio Bucciarelli (AFP/File)

Tripoli (AFP) - A Dutch journalist was killed on Sunday while covering a government-backed offensive against the Islamic State group in their Libyan stronghold city of Sirte, a medical official said.

Dr Akram Gliwan, spokesman for a hospital in Misrata where pro-government fighters are treated, told AFP that the journalist was "shot in the chest by an IS sniper while covering battles in Sirte" 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of the capital Tripoli.</s>A Libyan pro-regime fighter with the Government of National Accord (GNA) fires at Islamic State jihadists during clashes for control of Sirte, on September 3, 2016. By Mahmud Turkia (AFP/File)

Tripoli (AFP) - Forces loyal to Libya's unity government said Monday at least 80 jihadists were killed at the weekend in the city of Sirte, a former stronghold of the Islamic State group.

"Commanders of front line units have counted at least corpses (of jihadists) killed as they tried in vain to attack behind the lines" of the loyalists, said the media office of forces loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA).

It said in a statement sent to AFP that the bodies of another 25 jihadists were found in alleyways of the battleground coastal city.

The pro-GNA forces, who reported eight soldiers killed and 57 wounded on Sunday, said vehicles, arms and ammunition were seized in the latest round of an assault launched on May 12 and executed in phases to recapture Sirte from IS.

A Dutch journalist covering the clashes in Sirte, Jeroen Oerlemans who worked for the Belgian weekly Knack, was shot dead on Sunday.

Oerlemans became the second journalist killed in the fighting in Sirte after Abdelqader Fsouk, a Libyan who died in July.

On Saturday, GNA aircraft conducted six sorties in preparation for another advance on the jihadists' last hideouts in the city's east.

American aircraft have also carried out 177 air strikes since August 1 in support of GNA forces, according to US Africa Command (AFRICOM).

The fighting has left more than 450 GNA fighters dead and 2,500 wounded. The IS death toll is not known.</s>Destroyed buildings in the District 3 neighbourhood of Sirte on September 29, 2016. By Fabio Bucciarelli (AFP)

Tripoli (AFP) - Eight Libyan pro-government fighters and at least 10 Islamic State group jihadists died in clashes Sunday as some jihadists tried to flee their besieged stronghold, the unity government said.

Pro-government forces said they were "progressing" in Sirte, where they have surrounded IS militants, prompting some to try to escape.

They said pro-government fighters had recovered the bodies of at least 10 jihadists and were chasing another group that had fled the coastal town, 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of the capital Tripoli.

Eight soldiers loyal to the Government of National Accord were killed, according to the Facebook page of a field hospital set up by their forces in Sirte.

Twenty-four members of the pro-GNA forces were wounded and transferred to the main hospital in Misrata.

Forces allied with the GNA have cornered the group in Sirte, the birthplace of ousted dictator Moamer Kadhafi, since launching an offensive on May 12.

But suicide bombings and sniper fire from the surrounded jihadists have slowed the assault.

On Saturday, GNA aircraft conducted six sorties in preparation for an advance on the jihadists' hideout in the city's east, said the GNA statement.

American aircraft have also carried out some 177 air strikes since early August in support of GNA forces, according to US Africa Command (AFRICOM).

The fighting has left more than 450 GNA fighters dead and 2,500 wounded. The IS death toll is not known.

An IS defeat in Sirte would be a serious blow to the group, which has faced major setbacks in Iraq and Syria in recent months.</s>The list named six killed fighters, three of them from the city of Misrata.

The forces also said that the bodies of at least 10 slain Islamic State militants had been counted. The report could not be verified.

Forces dominated by fighters from Misrata and aligned with Libya's U.N.-backed government have been battling to capture Sirte for more than four months.

Supported since Aug. 1 by U.S. air strikes, they have taken control of most of the city and have been besieging militants trapped in a thin residential strip near Sirte's seafront for several weeks.

Their advance has been slowed by Islamic State snipers, improvised explosive devices and suicide bombings in close quarter street battles. Occasional ground attacks are interspersed by rest periods that allow fighters to regroup and hospitals to clear casualties.

The Misrata-led forces said in a statement posted on social media that they had conducted air sorties in preparation for a ground offensive on Sunday in Sirte's neighborhood Number Three.

As of Friday, the United States said it had carried out a total of 177 air strikes against Islamic State in Sirte.
An ISIL sniper in Sirte, Libya, shoots dead Dutch photographer and war correspondent Jeroen Oerlemans.