US air strikes kill dozens of ISIS militants in Libya camps

A senior US military official said on Thursday that American fighter bombers have targeted ISIS militant camps in Libya, killing dozens of the group's fighters, according to AFP.
Ashton Carter, the outgoing US defense secretary, said initial estimates suggested more than 80 fighters were killed.
“They were external plotters who were actively planning operations against our allies in Europe,” he said.
“They may also have been connected with some attacks that have already occurred.”
Mr Carter, speaking in his last press briefing before Donald Trump’s inauguration, said: “These were critically important strikes in our campaign and to destroy Isis not just in Iraq and Syria, but wherever it emerges."
He said he was confident that his successor would continue American efforts to “deliver ISIS the lasting defeat it deserves”.
Peter Cook, the Pentagon press secretary, said the operation was carried out around 25 miles southwest of the group’s former stronghold of Sirte on Wednesday night. 
Militants had gathered there after fleeing the US-backed assault that drove them out of the coastal city “in order to reorganize”, he added.
The mission was authorized directly by Barack Obama in his last days as President, having given military support to Libyan militias’ effort to retake Sirte last year.
His successor has been unclear on his position over Libya, hitting out at America’s support for British and French-led efforts to oust Muammar Gaddafi.
The US carried out several rounds of air strikes targeting ISIS in Libya since receiving a request from the country last year.
Two Serbian embassy employees being held hostage by the militants were killed by an American bombing raid near Sabratha in February.
ISIS’ Libyan branch was formed in 2014 by local militants who pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, later being bolstered by leading Iraqi and Saudi members of the terrorist group.

Source: Arab Today