US airstrikes against IS in Sirte reach 74: Africom

By Sami Zaptia.

London, 22 August 2016:

The US Africa Command (Africom) has reported that it has carried out 74 airstrikes against IS in Sirte since its operations began on 1^st August.

In its latest press release, Africom reported that ‘‘At the request of, and in coordination with, the Libyan Government of National Accord, U.S. Africa Command conducted precision air strikes against Daesh targets in Sirte, Libya.

As a result, the following targets were struck by U.S. forces:

Aug. 19:

1. One Daesh supply truck
2. Two enemy fighting positions
3. One Daesh supply truck

Aug. 20:

1. Ten enemy fighting positions
2. Five enemy fighting positions

Aug. 21:

1. Three enemy fighting positions
2. One enemy fighting position
3. Two enemy fighting positions
4. Two enemy fighting positions

These airstrikes bring the total number of airstrikes in support of Operation Odyssey Lightning, which began Aug. 1, to 74.

The U.S. stands with the international community in supporting the GNA as it strives to restore stability and security to Libya.

These actions, and those we have taken previously, will help deny Daesh a safe haven in Libya from which it could attack the United States and our allies’’, the statement concluded.