By Moataz al-Magbari, Saifuddin al-Trabulsi

TRIPOLI 

Forces loyal to Libya's UN-backed unity government on Thursday announced that they had captured a town near Sirte following a month-long military operation aimed at retaking the north-central city from the Daesh terrorist group.

In a Facebook post, the unity government said its forces had managed to "liberate" the coastal town of Harawah, located some 70 kilometers east of Sirte, "after expelling Daesh fighters from the town".

The government added that its air force had also bombed "Daesh strongholds" inside Sirte.

In a related development, the unity government’s presidential council announced that the number of troops injured during the gradual advance towards Daesh-held Sirte had exceeded 400.

In a statement, it went on to urge the international community to fulfill its promises to provide badly-needed support for the government troops who were currently fighting the terrorist group.

One month ago, forces loyal to the unity government’s presidential council launched a major military operation -- dubbed "Al-Bunyan al-Marsoos" -- against Daesh elements active in Libya’s north-central region.

Daesh overran Sirte (located some 450 kilometers east of capital Tripoli) early last year, following the withdrawal of troops loyal to Libya’s Tripoli-based government.

Ali Abo-Rezeg contributed to this report from Ankara