A Libyan militia loyal to the Islamist-backed government in Tripoli says it has arrested the leader of the Islamic State branch for a western city bombed by US forces last week.

The Special Deterrent Force said in a Facebook post that it had detained the city of Sabratha's IS leader Mohammed Saad al-Tajouri - also known as Abu Sulieman - and killed dozens of IS members in a gun battle.

The SDF said he was sent by IS leaders in Sirte - a central city controlled by IS - to take charge of Sabratha. The militia said it will release videos of the arrest and al-Tajouri's purported confessions.

IS tried to take over Sabratha on Wednesday by storming the security headquarters and beheading at least 12 SDF fighters inside.

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