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Islamic State camp in Libya attacked by US planes | Islamic State camp in Libya attacked by US planes |
(35 minutes later) | |
US warplanes have carried out attacks on militants from the so-called Islamic State (IS) in Libya, killing at least 38 people. | |
The strikes hit an IS training camp in Sabratha, around 70km west of Tripoli. | |
US officials said it was "likely" that the strikes had killed senior Tunisian extremist, Noureddine Chouchane. | |
Chouchane has been linked to two attacks that took place in Tunisia last year, including an attack that killed 30 Britons. | |
The IS group has been active in Libya for over a year, and the US estimates it has up to 6,000 fighters there. | |
Libya remains in chaos more than four years after the overthrow of former leader Muammar Gaddafi, and is being fought over by a number of groups, including the self-styled IS. | Libya remains in chaos more than four years after the overthrow of former leader Muammar Gaddafi, and is being fought over by a number of groups, including the self-styled IS. |
Top IS leaders 'take refuge' in Libya | Top IS leaders 'take refuge' in Libya |
Tunisia attack: What we know | Tunisia attack: What we know |
Control and crucifixions: Life in Libya under IS | Control and crucifixions: Life in Libya under IS |
The BBC understands that British bases were involved in the attack but that no British assets, such as warplanes, were involved. | |
The mayor of Sabratha put the death toll at 41, and said the majority of those killed were Tunisians. | |
US Defence Secretary Ash Carter last week said the US would continue to target militants in Libya. | US Defence Secretary Ash Carter last week said the US would continue to target militants in Libya. |
"We always keep open the option to do things unilaterally," he told the BBC. | "We always keep open the option to do things unilaterally," he told the BBC. |
In November, a US strike in Derna reportedly killed Iraqi IS commander Abu Nabil, also known as Wissam Najm Abd Zayd al-Zubaydi, who was said to be the group's leader in Libya. | In November, a US strike in Derna reportedly killed Iraqi IS commander Abu Nabil, also known as Wissam Najm Abd Zayd al-Zubaydi, who was said to be the group's leader in Libya. |
The US has launched several unilateral raids and operations in the country since it helped oust Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. | |
Noureddine Chouchane is also believed to have been behind the attack on the Bardo Museum in Tunis last year, which left 19 people dead. | |
The gunmen in both the Sousse and Bardo attacks are believed to have trained in Libya, which shares a border with Tunisia. | |
Islamic State militants in Libya | Islamic State militants in Libya |