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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. | 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 camp in Sabratha, around 70km (43 miles) west of Tripoli. | |
| US officials said it was "likely" that the strikes had killed senior Tunisian extremist, Noureddine Chouchane. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. | The US has launched several unilateral raids and operations in the country since it helped oust Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. |
| Analysis: Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent | |
| The pre-dawn raid by US warplanes is the most significant military operation undertaken by the US in Libya this year. However, it is unlikely to have a major impact on the operations of so-called Islamic State. | |
| The raid took place near the Tunisian border, far to the west of IS's centre of gravity which is in Sirte, in the centre of Libya's Mediterranean coastline. | |
| There, and in other locations, IS is believed to have amassed up to 6,000 fighters, with more recruits streaming in each week from both Syria and sub-Saharan Africa. | |
| Yet Washington will be looking to use the air strike as a deterrent, hoping to send a message to IS jihadists that even if it takes months to track down suspects it will eventually find them. | |
| Talk of greater Western military involvement on the ground has been scaled back though, as Libya continues to struggle to find a national unity government that can overcome its profound security challenges. | |
| Noureddine Chouchane is also believed to have been behind the attack on the Bardo Museum in Tunis last year, which left 19 people dead. | 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. | 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 |