This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/03/italian-hostages-likely-killed-fighting-libya-italy-isis-hideout-sabratha
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Italian hostages probably killed in raid in Libyan city, says Italy | Italian hostages probably killed in raid in Libyan city, says Italy |
| (6 months later) | |
| Two Italian civilians held as hostages in Libya were probably killed during fighting in Sabratha, the Italian foreign ministry has said. | Two Italian civilians held as hostages in Libya were probably killed during fighting in Sabratha, the Italian foreign ministry has said. |
| Libyan security forces said they had killed seven suspected Islamic State fighters in a raid on a militant hideout in the coastal city on Wednesday, and later released photographs of two western men who had also apparently been killed in the attack. | Libyan security forces said they had killed seven suspected Islamic State fighters in a raid on a militant hideout in the coastal city on Wednesday, and later released photographs of two western men who had also apparently been killed in the attack. |
| Italy’s foreign ministry said the men might be two of the four employees of the Italian construction company Bonatti who were kidnapped last July near a compound owned by oil and gas group Eni. | Italy’s foreign ministry said the men might be two of the four employees of the Italian construction company Bonatti who were kidnapped last July near a compound owned by oil and gas group Eni. |
| It gave names for the possible victims, but said formal verification was difficult because Italian officials did not have access to the bodies. | It gave names for the possible victims, but said formal verification was difficult because Italian officials did not have access to the bodies. |
| Local Libyan brigades have been fighting in Sabratha since last week, when militants briefly overran the city centre and beheaded more than 10 brigade members. | Local Libyan brigades have been fighting in Sabratha since last week, when militants briefly overran the city centre and beheaded more than 10 brigade members. |
| That followed a US airstrike on the outskirts of the city on 19 February in which more than 40 people were killed. The Serbian government said two Serbian nationals who had been held hostage since November were among the dead. | That followed a US airstrike on the outskirts of the city on 19 February in which more than 40 people were killed. The Serbian government said two Serbian nationals who had been held hostage since November were among the dead. |
| Sabratha is one of several Libyan cities where militants loyal to Isis have established a presence, taking advantage of the political chaos since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011. | Sabratha is one of several Libyan cities where militants loyal to Isis have established a presence, taking advantage of the political chaos since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011. |
| Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore reported on Thursday that Italy had sent about 40 secret service agents to Libya “some weeks ago”, and that an additional 50 special forces operatives were set to join them. There was no immediate confirmation of this. | Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore reported on Thursday that Italy had sent about 40 secret service agents to Libya “some weeks ago”, and that an additional 50 special forces operatives were set to join them. There was no immediate confirmation of this. |
| The former colonial power has said it is ready to send a much larger contingent to Libya to help train local forces as soon as a UN-backed unity government is formed. | The former colonial power has said it is ready to send a much larger contingent to Libya to help train local forces as soon as a UN-backed unity government is formed. |
| Officials in Rome, speaking off the record, said these troops would not be involved in frontline action. Any direct military action would only be ordered to defend Italian interests, such as Eni installations, they said. | Officials in Rome, speaking off the record, said these troops would not be involved in frontline action. Any direct military action would only be ordered to defend Italian interests, such as Eni installations, they said. |