US carries out first air strikes against IS in Libya

Sirte, Aug 3: The US sent its fighter jets to strike at the Islamic State (IS) in the Libyan city of Sirte for the first time, according to the North African country's unity government.

Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj said in a televised speech on Monday (Aug 1) that the first US air strikes on the positions of the Daes (IS) caused heavy losses.

American sources said the raids were conducted after Libya's Government of National Accord requested for it. The country's army sought support after facing bombs in and around Sirte, the hometown of late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, said an Al Jazeera report.

It said the air strikes were made to clean up the terrain to enable the Libyan troops to advance towards the IS.

Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said the US would carry out the raids in coordination with the GNA, said Al Jazeera.

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