over the next two months, sporadic fighting took place around sirte. on 20 may, isil forces again attacked a brigade 166 position. according to a libya dawn official, 23 isil fighters and one soldier were killed. on 28 may isil captured the nearly-ruined ghardabiya air base and the great man-made river water project outside of sirte when libyan shield forces withdrew. over the next few days, libya shield forces withdrew to positions 12 miles west of sirte, after isil advanced to the east, south, and west of the city.