The United States has conducted airstrikes on the Islamic State stronghold in Sirte, Libya, the Pentagon said on Monday, the first direct U.S. military involvement in Libyan forces’ battle against the militant group there.
In a statement, Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said that Libya’s Western-backed unity government had requested air support as forces under its command battle to reclaim the coastal city of Sirte, which has become an Islamic State stronghold since militants seized it last year.
The advance of the Libyan forces, mostly militia fighters who have declared loyalty to the unity government in Tripoli, has slowed significantly as they have pushed into central Sirte, where extremist fighters have established well-defended positions.
“Additional U.S. strikes will continue to target ISIL in Sirte in order to enable [Libya’s unity government] to make a decisive, strategic advance,” Cook said, using an acronym for the Islamic State.