The United States launched another round of airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Libya, bombing targets in the coastal city of Sirte (Sirte represents the terror group remaining stronghold along Libya's northern coast), Pentagon officials confirmed on Monday.
President Barrack Obama approved the strikes after the request of the Libyan government of National Accord to support forces trying to suppress ISIS in its main stronghold in Libya, the Pentagon added. This marked the third round of U.S strikes in Libya since the month of November.
"GNA-aligned forces have had success in recapturing territory from ISIL thus far around Sirte, and additional U.S. strikes will continue to target ISIL in Sirte in order to enable the GNA to make a decisive, strategic advance," Pentagon spokesperson Peter Cook said, using another acronym for ISIS.
"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 ISIL a safe haven in Libya from which it could attack the United States and our allies."
The authorization of airstrikes by President Obama came at the recommendation of Defense Secretary Ash Carter.
"The President's been clear that he will deny any safe haven for groups like ISIL or any group that tries to do us harm," White House spokesman Eric Schultz said. "The strikes you've seen are consistent with that approach."
The number of ISIS fighters in Libya has grown to more than 5000 over the past year, although the United Nations has announced that many of the fighters may have left Sirte over that frame of time.
"[The strikes] are consistent with our approach to combating ISIL by working with capable and motivated local forces," Cook said. "These actions and those we have taken previously will help deny ISIL a safe haven in Libya from which it could attack the United States and our allies."
