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US airstrikes target Islamic State militants in Libya US airstrikes target Islamic State militants in Libya
(35 minutes later)
US warplanes have carried out airstrikes on an Islamic State base in western Libya, targeting a leader linked to last year’s Sousse beach massacre in Tunisia.US warplanes have carried out airstrikes on an Islamic State base in western Libya, targeting a leader linked to last year’s Sousse beach massacre in Tunisia.
A US official told AP the strikes were carried out near Sabratha, not far from the Tunisian border, and “likely killed” Isis operative Noureddine Chouchane. Up to 30 Isis recruits died, a western official told the New York Times.A US official told AP the strikes were carried out near Sabratha, not far from the Tunisian border, and “likely killed” Isis operative Noureddine Chouchane. Up to 30 Isis recruits died, a western official told the New York Times.
Local reports and photographs show pulverised buildings at a compound close to al-Ajaylat, outside Sabratha, which is 40 miles west of Tripoli. The mayor of Sabratha said 41 people had died and six had been wounded.Local reports and photographs show pulverised buildings at a compound close to al-Ajaylat, outside Sabratha, which is 40 miles west of Tripoli. The mayor of Sabratha said 41 people had died and six had been wounded.
Earlier this week Barack Obama said the US “will go after Isis wherever it appears, the same way that we went after al-Qaida wherever they appeared”.Earlier this week Barack Obama said the US “will go after Isis wherever it appears, the same way that we went after al-Qaida wherever they appeared”.
US and British special forces have been deployed in Libya in recent weeks, with drones and intense reconnaissance by American, British and French warplanes.US and British special forces have been deployed in Libya in recent weeks, with drones and intense reconnaissance by American, British and French warplanes.
Related: Tunisian hotel workers recall terror: 'We opened our breasts against the bullets'Related: Tunisian hotel workers recall terror: 'We opened our breasts against the bullets'
Two major attacks in Tunisia last year claimed by Isis – one on a Sousse resort hotel and another on a Tunis museum – were carried out by gunmen who officials said had trained in Libya.Two major attacks in Tunisia last year claimed by Isis – one on a Sousse resort hotel and another on a Tunis museum – were carried out by gunmen who officials said had trained in Libya.
Western leaders are concerned that the chaos of a civil war between the elected government in Tobruk and a rival Islamist-led administration in Tripoli has allowed Isis to grow across the country. Western leaders are concerned that the chaos of a civil war between the elected government in Tobruk and a rival Islamist-led administration in Tripoli has allowed Isis to grow across the country, building up a presence on the southern shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
Unidentified aircraft have bombed other Isis bases in the eastern Libyan towns of Sirte and Derna in recent days, with Human Rights Watch saying a hospital was struck in the Derna raids.Unidentified aircraft have bombed other Isis bases in the eastern Libyan towns of Sirte and Derna in recent days, with Human Rights Watch saying a hospital was struck in the Derna raids.
Al-Ajaylat is cluster of compounds opening out onto the Sahara, and has been the focus of US attention for several months. It sits at a gap between the frontline of Libya Dawn militias who hold the northern coast and pro-government units deployed to the south.Al-Ajaylat is cluster of compounds opening out onto the Sahara, and has been the focus of US attention for several months. It sits at a gap between the frontline of Libya Dawn militias who hold the northern coast and pro-government units deployed to the south.
In December, pictures were released of US special forces with dune buggies at al-Wattiya, a government-controlled desert airbase 30 miles south of the Isis compound. Reports from the area claimed the American unit was mounting surveillance on the compound that has now been struck.In December, pictures were released of US special forces with dune buggies at al-Wattiya, a government-controlled desert airbase 30 miles south of the Isis compound. Reports from the area claimed the American unit was mounting surveillance on the compound that has now been struck.
The Pentagon said in January that US special forces were in Libya seeking to “partner” local militias to tackle Isis, and last week UK foreign office minister Tobias Ellwood revealed RAF warplanes are now flying missions over Libya.The Pentagon said in January that US special forces were in Libya seeking to “partner” local militias to tackle Isis, and last week UK foreign office minister Tobias Ellwood revealed RAF warplanes are now flying missions over Libya.
Sabratha has long been home to Islamist militants. In January 2014 local jihadis were blamed for the beachfront murder of British oil worker Mark De Salis and his girlfriend from New Zealand, Lynn Howie, at the nearby Melittah gas complex. Many of those militants have now gravitated to Isis.Sabratha has long been home to Islamist militants. In January 2014 local jihadis were blamed for the beachfront murder of British oil worker Mark De Salis and his girlfriend from New Zealand, Lynn Howie, at the nearby Melittah gas complex. Many of those militants have now gravitated to Isis.
In recent weeks Isis has been building up strength around the town, launching attacks on local militias at nearby Surman on the coastal highway.In recent weeks Isis has been building up strength around the town, launching attacks on local militias at nearby Surman on the coastal highway.
US warplanes previously struck an Isis base in Derna in November, and an al-Qaida gathering at Ajdabiya in eastern Libya in June.US warplanes previously struck an Isis base in Derna in November, and an al-Qaida gathering at Ajdabiya in eastern Libya in June.
Related: Five years after Gaddafi, Libya torn by civil war and battles with Isis
Washington fears that, left unchecked, Isis will grow in Libya as it has in Iraq and Syria, forming a hub from which it can launch attacks across north Africa.Washington fears that, left unchecked, Isis will grow in Libya as it has in Iraq and Syria, forming a hub from which it can launch attacks across north Africa.
Western powers have so far backed United Nations efforts to mediate an end to Libya’s civil war, in the hope that a unity government can persuade the country’s fractious militias to turn their guns on the militants. This week the country is marking the fifth anniversary of its revolution against Muammar Gaddafi. Western powers have so far backed United Nations efforts to mediate an end to Libya’s civil war – which has raged since the summer of 2014 – in the hope that a unity government can persuade the country’s fractious militias to turn their guns on the militants.
But the UN’s unity government plan was rejected by the Tobruk parliament on Monday, and western military planners fear that delaying action against Isis will see it capture and destroy Libya’s strategically vital oil ports. The militant group launched an offensive against Ras Lanuf, the country’s largest refinery, earlier this year setting storage tanks ablaze.But the UN’s unity government plan was rejected by the Tobruk parliament on Monday, and western military planners fear that delaying action against Isis will see it capture and destroy Libya’s strategically vital oil ports. The militant group launched an offensive against Ras Lanuf, the country’s largest refinery, earlier this year setting storage tanks ablaze.