Libya Carries Out Airstrikes on ISIL in Coastal City of Sirte

Libyan Air Force conducted airstrikes on positions of the Islamic State jihadist group in the northern Libyan city of Sirte, the head of the foreign media department of the Libyan government in Tripoli, Jamal Zubia, told Sputnik.

CAIRO (Sputnik) — According to the media reports, the Libyan branch of ISIL gained control over Sirte on Friday. On Saturday, Libya’s internationally recognized government asked Arab states to conduct airstrikes against the Islamic State in Sirte.

“I received the confirmation that the Libyan Air Force warplanes conducted air strikes on Sunday morning. They took off from Misurata [city in northwestern Libya] and hit the targets,” Zubia said.

There are now two rival governments operating in the country, with the self-proclaimed authorities controlling the capital of Tripoli and adjacent western areas and the internationally recognized government, based in the eastern Libyan city of Tobruk.