US strikes killed 80 IS fighters in Libya

WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (KUNA) -- US airstrikes on two camps of the so-called Islamic State (IS) in Libya killed over 80 fighters who were planning attacks on Europe, Secretary of Defence Ash Carter said on Thursday.
The casualties were based on an initial estimate due to airstrikes carried out by the US Africa Command, Carter told a press briefing.
"These were critically important strikes for our campaign and a clear example of our enduring commitment to destroy ISIL's cancer not only in Iraq and Syria, but everywhere it emerges," Carter said, using the group's former acronym.
The strikes, authorized by President Barack Obama, were carried out in coordination with the Libyan Government of National Accord some 45 kms southwest of Sirte, the Pentagon earlier said.
The IS fighters targeted in the strikes had fled from Sirte to the remote desert to reorganize, and posed a threat to Libya.
In Iraq, government forces, with US advice and assistance, have secured all critical areas in eastern Mosul, and are now preparing for an offensive on western Mosul.
"I'm confident that ISIL's days in Mosul are numbered," Carter said.
Furthermore, in Syria, Carter said he was "confident" coalition-backed Syrian fighters will soon have the self-proclaimed IS capital in Syria, Raqqah, "isolated." "These most recent events are a direct result of the deliberate actions we've taken since 2015 to accelerate our coalition military campaign plan," said the US defence chief. (pickup previous) sd.gb