Government-backed troops have inched closer to recapturing the Libyan city of Sirte as they continue to battle Islamic State militants. 

US jets and drones have been pounding Islamic State in the city for weeks, easing the passage for Libyan ground forces.

Libyan militants returning from fighting in the Syrian civil war helped to implant Islamic State in the country in 2014.

Losing Sirte would be a huge blow for Islamic State. The group is already under pressure from U.S.-backed campaigns in Syria and Iraq.

Libyan commanders say a few hundred Islamic State fighters are now encircled in the center of the city -- what they hope will be a last stand.

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