“These strikes were directed against some of ISIL’s external plotters,” US Defense Secretary Ash Carter told a Pentagon briefing, using an acronym for Islamic State. The attack took place 28 miles south-west of Sirte, targeting fighters fleeing Libyan forces clearing them from Sirte with support from US air strikes. It’s unclear whether Donald Trump, who takes office as US president on Friday, might seek to alter US policy in Libya. The United States carried out nearly 500 air strikes against IS targets in Sirte between August and December. It had previously carried out several isolated strikes against militant targets elsewhere in Libya.

Source: Libya Today January 20, 2017 06:57 UTC