WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – US forces carried out 22 airstrikes against the Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) near the Libyan city of Sirte on Friday and Saturday, the US military’s Africa Command said in a press release.
The strikes hit 63 Daesh fighting positions, Monday’s release stated.
The Africa Command added that it has now conducted 470 airstrikes against the terror group’s positions since the August 1 start of Operation Odyssey Lightning in support of Libya’s Government of National Accord.
Conducted in coordination with the government in Tripoli, the strikes are intended to help deny the Daesh a safe haven on Libyan territory from which it could attack the United States.
The Daesh gained a foothold in Libya in the turmoil following the 2011 ouster of the country’s longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi. The terror group is outlawed in Russia, the United States and other countries.
