TRIPOLI, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Libya's eastern-based army spokesman on Sunday said that Islamic State (IS) affiliates are attempting to move from the south to coastal areas in northern Libya.
Spokesman Col. Ahmad Mismari posted on Facebook on Sunday"The terrorist group IS is attempting from time to time to move in small groups from the desert to coastal areas."
"They (IS) have kidnapped some civilians from the area. Our patrol is following up their movements," he said.
Mismari revealed that the movement comes in a time when the rival Benghazi Defense Brigades and the forces of the UN-backed government are mobilizing and stationing 20 km eastern Sirte city.
The Libyan army led by Major General Khalifa Haftar has been engaged in a violent war for more than three years against extremist IS-loyal groups in eastern Libya, a military operation Haftar call "Dignity." Haftar recently announced taking over the eastern city Benghazi and defeating rival extremist groups.
Forces allied with the UN-backed government of national accord have defeated and expelled IS from their former haven in Sirte, some 450 km east the capital Tripoli following a seven-month war with the help of U.S. air force.
Despite the successive losses, IS is feared to regroup in the chaotic north African country.
The terrorist group posted a video a few days ago showing its fighters setting up a checkpoint in a main road in central Libya.
