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U.S. airstrikes target suspected Islamic State base in Libya U.S. airstrikes target suspected Islamic State base in Libya
(35 minutes later)
CAIRO — U.S. airstrikes Friday hit a suspected Islamic State training camp in Libya, leaving more than 40 dead — possibly including a senior leader — in an attack that followed Western calls for stepped up pressures against militant strongholds in North Africa. CAIRO — U.S. airstrikes Friday hit a suspected Islamic State training camp in Libya, leaving at least 40 dead — possibly including a senior leader — in an attack that followed Western calls for stepped-up pressures against militant strongholds in North Africa.
The Pentagon press secretary, Peter Cook, said a key target was a senior Tunisian militant linked to deadly commando-style attacks last year in his homeland.The Pentagon press secretary, Peter Cook, said a key target was a senior Tunisian militant linked to deadly commando-style attacks last year in his homeland.
Earlier, a U.S. defense official said the militant, Noureddine Chouchane, was “likely killed” in Friday’s airstrikes. But Cook said full details were being assessed. Libyan authorities placed the overall death toll at more than 40. Earlier, a U.S. defense official said the militant, Noureddine Chouchane, was “likely killed” in Friday’s airstrikes. But Cook said full details were being assessed. Authorities in Libya and Tunisia said at least 40 people were killed, but had no immediate reports on Chouchane.
It was the first major U.S. airstrikes in Libya since November and followed increased alarms by Western leaders about a widening Islamic State presence in Libya, which could open new oil-linked funding sources and give militants footholds along migrant routes to southern Europe. It was the first major U.S. air raid in Libya since November and followed increased alarms by Western leaders about a widening Islamic State presence there, which could open new oil-linked funding sources and give militants footholds along migrant routes to southern Europe.
President Obama this week urged for greater efforts to keep the Islamic State from “digging in” across Libya, where ongoing political infighting has divided the country into rival administrations and complicated Western-led efforts to battle militant factions. President Obama this week urged greater efforts to keep the Islamic State from “digging in” across Libya, where ongoing political infighting has divided the country into rival administrations and complicated Western-led efforts to battle militant factions.
The United States and allies, meanwhile, have relied on aerial surveillance and small reconnaissance teams to identity suspected Islamic State sites and movements. The United States and allies, meanwhile, have relied on aerial surveillance and small reconnaissance teams to identify suspected Islamic State sites and movements.
[Kerry warns of tightening Islamic State grip in Libya][Kerry warns of tightening Islamic State grip in Libya]
The airstrikes destroyed a large farmhouse outside Sabratha, a city in eastern Libya near the Tunisia border, where suspected militant fighters had gathered to hear a religious leader, said Jamal Naji Zubia, the head of the foreign news media office in Tripoli in a telephone interview. The airstrikes destroyed a large farmhouse outside Sabratha, a city in western Libya near the Tunisia border, where suspected militant fighters had gathered to hear a religious leader, said Jamal Naji Zubia, the head of the foreign news media office in Tripoli, in a telephone interview.
A key target in the attack was Chouchane, also known as Sabir, an Islamic State operative who was believed to be a key plotter in at least one of two Tunisian attacks against popular tourist sites.A key target in the attack was Chouchane, also known as Sabir, an Islamic State operative who was believed to be a key plotter in at least one of two Tunisian attacks against popular tourist sites.
The Pentagon spokesman Cook described Chouchane as an “experienced facilitator” involved in recruitment, planning and attempts by the Islamic State to establish more bases in Libya. Cook, the Pentagon spokesman, described Chouchane as an “experienced facilitator” involved in recruitment, planning and attempts by the Islamic State to establish more bases in Libya.
Across the country in eastern Libya, June 2015 airstrikes sought to target another most-wanted militant who had past ties to al-Qaeda, Mokhtar Belmokhtar. But U.S. officials still have not confirmed whether Belmokhtar, an Algerian, was killed in the attack. Across the country in eastern Libya, airstrikes in June 2015 targeted another most-wanted militant who had past ties to al-Qaeda, Mokhtar Belmokhtar. But U.S. officials still have not confirmed whether Belmokhtar, an Algerian, was killed in the attack.
[The U.S. still doesn’t know if it’s killed this legendary one-eyed militant]
Zubia — who described the Friday airstrikes as an “accurate hit” — said most of the victims were Tunisian, but at least one was Jordanian.Zubia — who described the Friday airstrikes as an “accurate hit” — said most of the victims were Tunisian, but at least one was Jordanian.
“They are believed to be from Daesh,” said Zubia, using the Arabic name for the Islamic State. “They had gathered at the house to hear a speech from one of their Tunisian imams.” “They are believed to be from Daesh,” said Zubia, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State. “They had gathered at the house to hear a speech from one of their Tunisian imams.”
[Western security plan for Libya takes shape] Sabratha Mayor Hussein Dawadi told Libya TV that the site was occupied by suspected Islamic State fighters, including some who had only recently arrived.
The news website Libya Herald, citing hospital officials, said at least 41 bodies were found. The report added that the injured were all Arabs from a variety of countries, but none were Libyan.The news website Libya Herald, citing hospital officials, said at least 41 bodies were found. The report added that the injured were all Arabs from a variety of countries, but none were Libyan.
Sabratha mayor Hussein Dawadi told Libya TV that the site was occupied by suspected Islamic State fighters, including some who had only recently arrived. In Tunisia, the Foreign Ministry spokesman Noufal el-Obaidi placed the death toll at 40 — a mix of Tunisians and Algerians — and said six Tunisians were injured, the state-run TAP news agency reported. None of the reports carried any immediate word on Chouchane.
Last year’s attacks appeared aimed at crippling the vital tourism industry in Tunisia, a popular spot for Europeans and others. In March, gunmen killed 22 people at the National Bardo Museum in Tunis. In June, attackers stormed a beach in the resort of Sousse, killing 38 people.Last year’s attacks appeared aimed at crippling the vital tourism industry in Tunisia, a popular spot for Europeans and others. In March, gunmen killed 22 people at the National Bardo Museum in Tunis. In June, attackers stormed a beach in the resort of Sousse, killing 38 people.
[Western security plan for Libya takes shape]
The Islamic State has taken advantage of political chaos in Libya — which is divided between two rival governments — to increase its footholds along the Mediterranean.The Islamic State has taken advantage of political chaos in Libya — which is divided between two rival governments — to increase its footholds along the Mediterranean.
In recent months, the group has strengthened its presence in Sabratha, a port city whose proximity to the Tunisian border made it a way station for smugglers and militants moving between the two countries.In recent months, the group has strengthened its presence in Sabratha, a port city whose proximity to the Tunisian border made it a way station for smugglers and militants moving between the two countries.
The Tunisian militant group Ansar al-Sharia had previously established a base in Sabratha, where the United Nations declared its ancient Roman ruins a world heritage site in 1982. The Libyan militant group Ansar al-Sharia had previously established a base in Sabratha, where the United Nations declared ancient Roman ruins a world heritage site in 1982.
In other Libyan cities, fighters for another militant faction, Ansar al-Sharia, have been mostly absorbed into the ranks of the Islamic State. Tunisian jihadists make up one of the largest contingents of foreign fighters among Syrian rebel groups and Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, according to researchers. In other Libyan cities, fighters for Ansar al-Sharia have been mostly absorbed into the ranks of the Islamic State. Tunisian jihadists make up one of the largest contingents of foreign fighters among Syrian rebel groups and Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, according to researchers.
The Islamic State, also known as ISIL and ISIS, had previously secured a foothold in Sirte — the hometown of former Libyan strongman Muammar al-Gaddafi — in the country’s east. But its fighters have also been known to operate in the Libyan capital, Tripoli. The Islamic State, also known as ISIL and ISIS, had previously secured a foothold in Sirte — the home town of former Libyan strongman Moammar Gaddafi — in the country’s east. But its fighters have also been known to operate in the Libyan capital, Tripoli.
So far, U.S.-led military pressure against the Islamic State has concentrated on Iraq and Syria. But the United States and allies have been studying possible increased military action against the militant group in Libya.So far, U.S.-led military pressure against the Islamic State has concentrated on Iraq and Syria. But the United States and allies have been studying possible increased military action against the militant group in Libya.
[The Tunisian beach that became a killing field][The Tunisian beach that became a killing field]
On Wednesday, Obama said the United States and allies were focused on strategies to “make sure that as we see opportunities to prevent ISIS from digging in, in Libya, we take them.”On Wednesday, Obama said the United States and allies were focused on strategies to “make sure that as we see opportunities to prevent ISIS from digging in, in Libya, we take them.”
“With respect to Libya,” he told reporters at the end of a summit with Southeast Asian leaders in California, “I have been clear from the outset that we will go after ISIS wherever it appears, the same way that we went after al-Qaeda wherever they appeared.”“With respect to Libya,” he told reporters at the end of a summit with Southeast Asian leaders in California, “I have been clear from the outset that we will go after ISIS wherever it appears, the same way that we went after al-Qaeda wherever they appeared.”
Earlier this month, Secretary of State of John F. Kerry said Islamic State fighters could be retrenching in oil-rich Libya as the U.S.-led military campaign cuts off supply routes and bases in Syria and Iraq.Earlier this month, Secretary of State of John F. Kerry said Islamic State fighters could be retrenching in oil-rich Libya as the U.S.-led military campaign cuts off supply routes and bases in Syria and Iraq.
“As everybody here knows, that country has resources,” Kerry said at a conference of 23 foreign ministers in Rome. “The last thing in the world you’d want is a false caliphate with access to billions of dollars in oil revenue.”“As everybody here knows, that country has resources,” Kerry said at a conference of 23 foreign ministers in Rome. “The last thing in the world you’d want is a false caliphate with access to billions of dollars in oil revenue.”
Both Kerry and Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said the radical Islamist group is expanding its presence in Libya, as fighters pushed out of Iraq and Syria relocate there and are joined by others new to the battle.Both Kerry and Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said the radical Islamist group is expanding its presence in Libya, as fighters pushed out of Iraq and Syria relocate there and are joined by others new to the battle.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers expressed concern over the “growing influence” of the Islamic State in Libya.In a joint statement, the foreign ministers expressed concern over the “growing influence” of the Islamic State in Libya.
In November, the Pentagon claimed it killed an Iraq militant considered the Islamic State leader in Libya, known as Abu Nabil al-Anbari. A U.S. statement at the time said Nabil may have been the voice that appeared on a February 2015 video showing the beheadings of 21 Christian workers in Libya, nearly all Copts from Egypt. In November, the Pentagon claimed it killed an Iraqi militant considered the Islamic State leader in Libya, known as Abu Nabil al-Anbari. A U.S. statement at the time said he may have been the man whose voice appeared in a February 2015 video showing the beheadings of 21 Christian workers in Libya, nearly all Copts from Egypt.
Murphy reported from Washington. Erin Cunningham in Cairo and Missy Ryan and Dan LaMothe in Washington contributed to this report. Murphy reported from Washington. Erin Cunningham in Cairo and Missy Ryan and Dan Lamothe in Washington contributed to this report.
Read more:Read more:
The Islamic State’s black banner rises along the MediterraneanThe Islamic State’s black banner rises along the Mediterranean
Egyptian foreign minister: Libya intervention should wait
Who was Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the one-eyed militant the U.S. tried to kill for two decades?
Libya’s neighbors watch descent into chaos with new fears
Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the worldToday's coverage from Post correspondents around the world