In a sign of how the Pentagon has sought to obscure its operations in Libya and other parts of northwestern Africa, the Africa Command did not announce the strike on Saturday. Some have allied with Islamist militias, including Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, which operates across Algeria, Mali, Niger and Libya. Advertisement Continue reading the main storyMs. Mack said that Saturday’s attack was the first airstrike the United States had conducted against Al Qaeda in Libya. Mr. Belmokhtar was a longtime Qaeda operative with ties to senior Qaeda leadership in Pakistan. In Sebha, the largest southern city, Mr. Hifter and the rival United Nations-backed government are vying for control through local proxies.

Source: New York Times March 25, 2018 19:43 UTC