(Military Times) Andrew Tilghman - The new air campaign targeting Islamic State militants in Libya entered its second day Tuesday as U.S. officials said the operation would last for "weeks" until the extremist group was ousted from its stronghold in the coastal city of Sirte. AV-8B Harrier II attack jets from the amphibious assault ship Wasp, which is currently in the Mediterranean Sea, took part in the airstrikes in support of forces loyal to the Libyan "government of national accord." Military officials estimate there are fewer than 1,000 ISIS fighters in Sirte, down from several thousand earlier this year. Officially the campaign is known as Operation Odyssey Lightning and is overseen by U.S. Africa Command. The U.S. is using a combination of manned and unmanned aircraft to conduct the airstrikes. Small "contact teams" of special operations troops have gone in and out of Libya in recent months to gather intelligence and forge alliances with local militias, officials say.
2016-08-04 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive