WASHINGTON: The US military has officially ended operations in a former Daesh bastion in Libya, officials announced.
The Pentagon had launched Operation Odyssey Lightning to help local forces push the militants from the coastal city of Sirte on Aug. 1.
“In partnership with the Libyan Government of National Accord, the operation succeeded in its core objective of enabling GNA-aligned forces to drive Daesh out of Sirte,” the US military’s Africa Command said in a statement.
US drones, gunships and warplanes had hammered Daesh positions, conducting a total of 495 strikes.
“We are proud to have supported this campaign to eliminate ISIL’s hold over the only city it has controlled outside Iraq and Syria,” Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook told reporters.
Officials said the United States would continue to strike Daesh militants if the Libyan unity government asked for help in doing so.
Unity government leader Fayez Al-Sarraj on Saturday announced that military operations in Sirte were done, but Daesh still has fighters in Libya and on Sunday conducted a suicide attack in Benghazi.
The fall of Sirte — Qaddafi’s home town located 450 kilometers (280 miles) east of Tripoli — is a major setback for Daesh, which has also faced military defeats in Syria and Iraq.
Libya descended into chaos following the NATO-backed ousting of former ruler Muammar Qaddafi in 2011, with rival administrations emerging and well-armed militias vying for control of its vast oil wealth.
US ends anti-Daesh operation in Libya’s Sirte
US ends anti-Daesh operation in Libya’s Sirte
Israel objects to US announcement of leaders who will play a role in overseeing next steps in Gaza
- Trump administration earlier in the week said the US-drafted ceasefire plan for Gaza was now moving into its challenging second phase
JERUSALEM: Israel’s government is objecting to the White House announcement of leaders who will play a role in overseeing next steps in Gaza.
The rare criticism from Israel of its close ally in Washington says the Gaza executive committee “was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy,” without details.
Saturday’s statement also said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the foreign ministry to contact Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The committee announced by the White House on Friday includes no Israeli official but has an Israeli businessman. Other members announced so far include two of US President Donald Trump’s closest confidants, a former British prime minister, an American general and a collection of top officials from Middle Eastern governments.
The White House has said the executive committee will carry out the vision of a Trump-led “Board of Peace,” whose members have not yet been named. The White House also announced the members of a new Palestinian committee to run Gaza’s day to day affairs, with oversight from the executive committee.
The committee’s members include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga and Trump’s deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel.
The Trump administration earlier in the week said the US-drafted ceasefire plan for Gaza was now moving into its challenging second phase, which includes the new Palestinian committee in Gaza, deployment of an international security force, disarmament of Hamas and reconstruction of the war-battered territory.
The ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, with the first phase focusing on the return of all remaining hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees, along with a surge in humanitarian aid and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces in Gaza.
