Obama reportedly authorized the strikes earlier this week, without congressional approval. The president committed to giving Libya air support after the U.S.-backed toppling of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The strikes appear to underscore that ISIS remains a threat in Libya, regardless of U.S. military claims. For a Pentagon that erroneously claimed it "doesn't do body counts," some more body counts on the way out the door. Guardian reporter Spencer Ackerman made reference to the incoming changeover on Twitter, writing, "Massive, yuge U.S. airstrikes in Libya closing out the Obama administration."

Source: Libya Today January 19, 2017 21:35 UTC