US strikes target ISIS in Libya

US warplanes Monday carried out airstrikes on positions of the Islamic State group in the Libyan city of Sirte for the first time, the country’s unity government head announced.

“The first American air strikes on precise positions of the Daesh (ISIS) organisation were carried out on Monday, causing heavy losses... In Sirte,” Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj said in a televised speech.

In Washington, the Pentagon said the raids were launched in response to a request from the unity government.

“At the request of the Libyan Government of National Accord, the United States military conducted precision air strikes against ISIL targets in Sirte, Libya, to support GNA-affiliated forces seeking to defeat ISIL in its primary stronghold in Libya,” Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said, using another name for ISIS.

The US strikes in Sirte “will continue”, Mr Cook added without elaborating.

President Barack Obama authorised the bombings following recommendations from top Pentagon officials, and the strikes are “consistent with our approach to combating ISIL by working with capable and motivated local forces”, Mr Cook added.

“The US stands with the international community in supporting the GNA as it strives to restore stability and security to Libya,” he said.

The Tripoli-based GNA launched an operation in May to retake the IS bastion of Sirte, the hometown of slain dictator Muammar Gaddafi which the jihadists have controlled since June 2015.

Mr Sarraj stressed that the US strikes were carried out in coordination with the military command centre of pro-GNA forces, and that no foreign troops would be deployed in Libya.

“This has allowed our forces on the ground to take control of strategic positions,” he said, adding that the American involvement would be “limited in time and will not go beyond Sirte and its suburbs”.

“We asked for this support from the international community, notably the United States, but we want to point out that there will be no foreign presence on Libyan soil.”

The fall of Sirte, 450 km east of Tripoli, would be a major blow to ISIS, which has also faced a series of setbacks in Syria and Iraq.