WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States has concluded the operation against Daesh in the Libyan city of Sirte, the US Africa Command said in a press release on Tuesday.
"The United States Africa Command concluded Operation Odyssey Lightning Dec. 19, following an announcement from the Libyan government of the end of offensive military operations in Sirte," the release stated.
NEWS RELEASE: AFRICOM concludes Operation Odyssey Lightning — https://t.co/bdhfZnaO0B pic.twitter.com/Q8Y4f7ki0h
— US AFRICOM (@USAfricaCommand) 20 декабря 2016 г.
The Africa Command said the operation succeeded in driving Daesh out of Sirte.
During the operation, which began on August 1, US forces carried out 495 airstrikes against Daesh in support of Libya’s Government of National Accord, the release said.
On December 5, Libyan forces allied with the country’s United Nations-backed government announced they had retaken Sirte from Daesh. It was the only city outside of Iraq and Syria that the group controlled.
