The United States military carried out an airstrike against Islamic State fighters in southern Libya according to a statement released by US Africa Command. The airstrike was conducted in the vicinity of Murzuq, Libya and at least 8 terrorists were killed.
It was the first American airstrike this year in Libya against Islamic State or Qaeda fighters, after the military conducted six aerial attacks last year, most recently in November 2018.
Drones remain the weapon of choice to attack the militants in Libya. The military launches its MQ-9 Reaper drones from bases in Sicily and in Niamey, Niger’s capital. It is also building a new $110 million drone base in Agadez, Niger, which is much closer to militant hotbeds in southern Libya than the base in Niamey.
