U.S. conducts new round of airstrikes against ISIS in Libya

01.08

Andrew Tilghman, Christopher P. Cavas, Jeff Schogol, David Larter and Oriana Pawlyk

U.S. warplanes on Monday launched a new round of airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Libya, a campaign that is expected to last at least the next several days, the Pentagon has confirmed.

"Today, at the request of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), the United States military conducted precision airstrikes 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 in a statement, which references one of the Islamic State group's acronyms.

Monday's two strikes, which hit an ISIS tank and two vehicles, were conducted by a combination of manned and unmanned aircraft, defense officials said. They were the first to target the ISIS outpost in Sirte, located along the Libyan coast. The ISIS force of fewer than 1,000 militants continues to control the city center, official said.

Two prior U.S. airstrikes hit ISIS militants in other parts of Libya, most recently in February. 

Since then, however, U.S. officials have been reluctant to authorize more until a cohesive government emerged from the country's chaotic civil war.

Monday's strikes were the first to be requested by the Libyan GNA and may signal the start of a U.S. broader mission to support the fledgling Libyan government.

Defense officials will not say whether there are any U.S. forces on the ground in Libya.

For months U.S. forces have conducted discreet ground operations, as small teams of special operations troops have moved in and out of Libya, making contact with rebel factions and gathering intelligence about the political and military situations there. Those personnel may continue to operate in Libya, but they are not involved in the current operation.

“With regard to this particular operation in Sirte, we do not expect U.S. [ground] forces to be part of this specific operation. I’m not going to speak to other us forces with regard to Libya overall,” Cook said. "We have indicated in the past that we have had forces on the ground getting a picture there, and that has been helpful and successful. But that is separate and apart from this operation.”

U.S. activity is limited to airstrikes and intelligence support, and does not include any weapons sales or nonlethal aid, Cook said. He called the attack "consistent with our approach to combating ISIL by working with capable and motivated local forces. GNA-aligned forces have had success in recapturing territory from ISIL thus far around Sirte, and additional U.S. strikes will continue to target ISIL in Sirte in order to enable the GNA to make a decisive, strategic advance."

The attack Monday was authorized by President Obama on the recommendation of Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford, Cook said.

The head of U.S. Africa Command, Marine Corps Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser, has been given authority to approve future strikes in Sirte, Cook said.

Col. Mark Cheadle, a spokesman for AFRICOM, told Military Times: "We are employing a variety of platforms to provide key information to the GNA-aligned forces. As well, we have the ability to conduct manned and unmanned airstrikes against [ISIS] targets in Sirte to help enable the GNA-aligned forces to make a decisive and strategic advance."

The U.S. amphibious assault ship Wasp, carrying an element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, is standing by in the vicinity of Libya, sources said. That includes AV-8B Harrier attack jets. The Wasp is not accompanied, sources said, by the other two ships of its amphibious ready group.

Monday's attack was part of a comprehensive series of operations planned and controlled by AFRICOM. The first element of this three-phase plan is Operation Odyssey Resolve, consisting of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance flights designed to counter violent extremism in Libya.

The second phase, Operation Junction Serpent, provided targeting information. The third element, Operation Odyssey Lightning, includes strike aircraft hitting those targets. That operation reportedly began over the weekend, Pentagon sources said.

In February, U.S. intelligence officials raised their estimate for ISIS fighters in Libya to between 5,000 to 6,000, up from previous estimates of 2,000 to 3,000.

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/war-on-is/2016/08/01/us-air-strikes-sirte-libya-islamic-state/87909908/http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/war-on-is/2016/08/01/us-air-strikes-sirte-libya-islamic-state/87909908/