Forces loyal to Libya's UN-backed government said today they had seized full control of Sirte from the Islamic State group, in a major blow to the jihadists who battled for months to retain their bastion.<br/><br/>The battle for the coastal city, which was the last significant territory held by IS in Libya, cost the lives of hundreds of loyalist troops as well as an unknown number of IS fighters.<br/><br/>Forces allied with the country's unity government launched an offensive to retake the city on May 12, quickly seizing large areas of the city and cornering the jihadists.<br/><br/><br/>