US airstrikes kill dozens IS fighters in Libya's Sirte

Two U.S. B-2 warplanes carried out airstrikes on Wednesday night on camps of IS in the outskirts of Libya's Sirte, killing at least 80 militants, said a statement by the Pentagon spokesman, Peter Cook.

"In conjunction with the Libyan Government of National Accord, the U.S. military conducted precision airstrikes Wednesday night destroying two IS camps, 45 kilometers southwest of Sirte," the statement said.

"The IS terrorists targeted included individuals who fled to the remote desert camps from Sirte in order to reorganize, and they posed a security threat to Libya, the region, and U.S. national interests. While we are still evaluating the results of the strikes, the initial assessment indicates they were successful."

Forces loyal to the UN-backed government of national accord in Libya announced in December that the seven-month long fight against IS in Sirte was successfully over, defeating the terrorist group in the largest stronghold in the North African country.

"The United States remains prepared to further support Libyan efforts to counter terrorist threats and to defeat IS in Libya," U.S. Secretary Ashton Carter said, adding that some of the IS fighters targeted by the airstrikes posed a threat to Europe.

"They certainly are people who were actively plotting operations in Europe and may also have been connected to attacks that have already occurred in Europe," Carter told reporters.

"We need to strike IS everywhere they show up. And that's particularly true in view of the fact that we know some of the IS operatives in Libya were involved with plotting attacks," Carter added.

Following the uprising of 2011 that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos, which helped IS establish a haven. Endit