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Islamic State clashes with rivals in eastern Libya, 20 dead

At least 20 fighters were killed in clashes in eastern Libya between Islamic State and another Islamist force that later declared jihad against its hardline rival, residents and medical sources said on Wednesday. Forces loyal to the official government later sent an air strike against suspected Islamic State positions in Derna, said Nasser al-Hassi, spokesman for Benghazi’s air base. Fighting erupted in the city of Derna after a leader in

French army chief urges more strikes on IS command centres

The US-led coalition carrying out air strikes against the Islamic State group needs to target the jihadists’ command centres, but this is easier said than done, French army chief Denis Mercier said Wednesday. “It is exactly the same problem in Iraq today. France has ruled out joining air strikes against IS in Syria until a credible political transition has taken place in Damascus.