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US bombers strike ISIS camps in Libya, kill 80 jihadists – DoD | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
US bombers hit Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) camps outside the city of Sirte in Libya, killing 80 jihadists, US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter told reporters. | |
“In Libya, our Africa Command conducted airstrikes against two ISIL camps south of Sirte,” Carter said in a press conference. | |
According to initial estimations, “the airstrikes killed more than 80 ISIL fighters,” he added. | |
Earlier, the US military issued a statement saying the individuals targeted “posed a security threat to Libya, the region, and U.S. national interests.” | |
“We are committed to maintaining pressure on ISIL and preventing them from establishing safe haven [in Libya],” the announcement went on to say. | |
The mission was coordinated with Libya’s UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), the US military announced. | |
The mission was coordinated with Libya’s UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), the US military announced. | |
Earlier, US officials cited by Reuters said the strikes were carried out by US B-2 bombers. | |
Sirte was once an IS stronghold in Libya, before government forces and local militia groups retook the city in December last year. | Sirte was once an IS stronghold in Libya, before government forces and local militia groups retook the city in December last year. |
In the aftermath, GNA officials said they would continue to clear the territories around Sirte of IS jihadists. | In the aftermath, GNA officials said they would continue to clear the territories around Sirte of IS jihadists. |
The GNA mission to drive out IS militants from Sirte has frequently been aided by US airstrikes. | The GNA mission to drive out IS militants from Sirte has frequently been aided by US airstrikes. |
Back in August, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said during a press conference that the US will continue to “strike at ISIL anywhere it raises its head.” | Back in August, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said during a press conference that the US will continue to “strike at ISIL anywhere it raises its head.” |
He stressed that Libya is “one of those places” and that Washington will continue to provide airstrikes there “as long as [the Libyan government] is requesting them.” | He stressed that Libya is “one of those places” and that Washington will continue to provide airstrikes there “as long as [the Libyan government] is requesting them.” |
Islamic State gained a foothold in Libya after the country plunged into chaos following the NATO-backed ouster of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The B-2 bomber is a multipurpose stealth bomber first used by the US during the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. It was designed primarily to deliver nuclear weapons but has been used extensively as a conventional bomber in major US military campaigns, from Afghanistan to Libya. | Islamic State gained a foothold in Libya after the country plunged into chaos following the NATO-backed ouster of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The B-2 bomber is a multipurpose stealth bomber first used by the US during the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. It was designed primarily to deliver nuclear weapons but has been used extensively as a conventional bomber in major US military campaigns, from Afghanistan to Libya. |