US: STRIKES ON ISIL CAMP IN LIBYA KILL 17 MILITANTS

The United States said yesterday its forces had carried out six “precision air strikes” against an ISIL camp in Libya, killing 17 militants.

The air strikes were believed to be the first in Libya by US forces since president Donald Trump took office in January.

The US Africa command said the air strikes were conducted on Friday in co-ordination with Libya’s UN-backed Government of National Accord, hitting a desert camp 240 kilometres southeast of the central city of Sirte.

“The camp was used by ISIL to move fighters in and out of the country; stockpile weapons and equipment; and to plot and conduct attacks,” it said.

The last known US air strikes were carried out in early January under president Barack Obama, targeting two ISIL camps where militants were suspected of actively planning operations in Europe.

The US Africa command said 17 ISIL militants were killed and three vehicles destroyed in Friday’s strikes, but provided few other details.

“The United States will track and hunt these terrorists, degrade their capabilities and disrupt their planning and operations by all appropriate, lawful, and proportional means, including precision strikes against their forces, terror training camps and lines of communication, as well as partnering with Libyan forces to deny safe havens for terrorists in Libya,” the command said.