Sunday 28 February 2016

Airstrike targets suspected Daesh convoy in Libya

TRIPOLI: Aircraft attacked a convoy carrying suspected Daesh militants near the northwestern Libyan town of Bani Walid early on Sunday, an official said.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack though both the United States and Libyan government forces have launched air strikes on militants in recent months.
Three huge explosions rocked the area around dawn, the member of Bani Walid’s municipal council told Reuters.
People living in Ras Al-Tbel, about 80 km (50 miles) south-east of Bani Walid, had seen the same convoy of up to 15 vehicles carrying black Daesh flags over the past two days, the official added.
It was not immediately clear if the convoy was hit.
Militant groups have taken advantage of political chaos to expand their presence in Libya and fighters loyal Daesh have taken control of the coastal city of Sirte, about 260km (160 miles) east of Bani Walid.
Western officials say they are discussing air strikes and special forces operations in Libya against the group that has already seized large areas of Syria and neighboring Iraq.
US aircraft attacked a suspected Daesh training camp on the outskirts of the western Libyan city of Sabratha this month, and launched two more airstrikes against militant commanders in Libya last year.

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