Dutch journalist killed by ISIS sniper in Libya

A Dutch journalist has reportedly been killed by an ISIS sniper in the Libyan town of Sirte.

Dutch Freelance photojournalist Jeroen Oerlemans died after sustaining a gunshot wound on Sunday, according to Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous spokesman, Reda Essa.

Dutch ambassador in Libya Eric Strating tweeted his condolences, praising Oerlemans’ work.

“Your photographs of #Sirte #Libya and other places will live on forever,” he wrote. “Condolences to all who loved him.”

Committee to Protect Journalists Deputy Executive Director Robert Mahoney noted that Oerlemans’ death is the 10th involving a journalist in Libya since the conflict began in 2011.

“Journalists have recently begun returning in greater numbers to Libya to cover the conflict and political upheaval but it remains an extraordinarily dangerous place,” Mahoney said. “The death of Jeroen Oerlemans is a reminder that those who bring us images and video from the front lines often pay the heaviest price.”

Oerlemans was previously held captive by Syrian militants in 2012 and was no stranger to peril.

Sirte doctor Nabeel Aqoub said that snipers in the area are engaging personnel in such a way as to ensure that survivors are unable to fight again.

“The snipers attack usually the spine here,” he said. “They choose to fire at the spine because brain injury and heart injury if he survived, he’s going to fight again,”

According to CNN, the coastal city of Sirte is one of the last ISIS strongholds in Libya, and US-backed militant groups have been laying siege to the city in hopes of forcing ISIS out.

© 2016 Bright Mountain Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The content of this webpage may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written consent of Bright Mountain Media, Inc. which may be contacted at info@brightmountainmedia.com, ticker BMTM.