Libya
One of the militants killed in a U.S. air strike in Libya over the weekend was a “high-ranking” official in al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
The strike on Saturday, the first against al Qaeda militants in Libya, killed “two terrorists” as part of efforts to deny militants a safe haven in the country’s vast desert.
The military had previously acknowledged the weekend strike, but had not until now said who the target of the strike was.
In a statement, the U.S. military said Musa Abu Dawud, the senior al Qaeda militant, had trained recruits in Libya to carry out attacks in the region.
“He provided critical logistics support, funding and weapons to AQIM, enabling the terrorist group to threaten and attack U.S. and Western interests in the region,” U.S. Africa Command said.
U.S. confirms strike against al-Qa’ida’s Musa Abu Dawud – https://t.co/D336RSP13S pic.twitter.com/S4VrGlyaks
— US AFRICOM (@USAfricaCommand) 28 mars 2018
The Saturday strike had hit on the outskirts of the city of Ubari and was carried out in coordination with the internationally recognized Government of National Accord in Tripoli.
REUTERS
Go to video
Gunmen kill 22 during baptism ceremony in western Niger
00:52
Mali launches airstrikes in response to militant-imposed fuel blockade
01:05
Hundreds continue to flee central Malian town after jihadist attack
00:51
Turkey, Italy, and Libya hold trilateral talks on migration and security
Go to video
Borno residents slam Nigeria’s failed militant reintegration program
01:00
Togo confirms over 60 killed in Al Qaeda-linked attacks