Fayez Sarraj, the Libyan prime minister, made a televised statement announcing the strikes.
Advertisement
Now we’ve got USA warplanes providing air support, which the Military Times notes American officials have been reluctant to provide “until a cohesive government emerged from the country’s chaotic civil war”.
The GNA was the result of a U.N.-mediated deal signed in December, which tried to mend the rift by creating a presidency council and a unity government, but it is having difficulty imposing its authority and winning backing from factions in the east. The deal envisions a transitional period of up to two years, followed by a vote on a draft constitution and then presidential or parliamentary elections.
“These actions and those we have taken previously will help deny ISIL a safe haven in Libya from which it could attack the United States and our allies”, the Pentagon statement continued, using another term for IS.
Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said the USA carried out airstrikes against Islamic State vehicles and a tank in the coastal city of Sirte, which has emerged as one of the extremist group’s critical bases outside its self-declared caliphate in Iraq and Syria.
He said that the call for USA support came in response to a request from the command of the Bonayan al-Marsous operation that fought against Islamic State and after consulting the defence minister.
Members of forces loyal to Libya’s unity government taking part in military operations against Islamic State in Sirte.
“The U.S. amphibious assault ship Wasp, carrying an element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, is standing by in the vicinity of Libya, sources said”. They were the first strikes by the USA on the group in Libya since February, and they are expected to continue.
A fighter of Libyan forces allied with the U.N.-backed government runs for cover during a battle with Islamic State fighters inSirte, Libya, July 31, 2016.
Brigades mainly composed of militia from the western city of Misrata advanced on Sirte in May, but their progress was slowed by snipers, mines and booby-traps.
At least 350 of their fighters have been killed and more than 1500 wounded in the campaign. It gained control over about 250 km (155 miles) of sparsely populated coastline either side of Sirte, though it has struggled to win support or retain territory elsewhere in the country. But officials said they expect the air campaign will last weeks, not months.
Advertisement
Small teams of Western countries’ special forces have been on the ground in eastern and western Libya for months.
