ISIS jihadists smashed by US forces in night of devastating airstrikes in Libya

US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said the devastating attacks took place 100 miles southeast of Sirte on Tuesday in co-ordination with Libya’s Government of National Accord.

The exact number of extremists killed remains unclear but Pentagon officials said “several” had died in the deadly bombing raids.

ISIS militants in Libya have set up a desert army composed of at least three brigades after they lost their base in Sirte last year.

An AFRICOM spokesman said: “ISIS and al-Qaeda have taken advantage of ungoverned spaces in Libya to establish sanctuaries for plotting, inspiring, and directing terror attacks.

“They are recruiting and facilitating the movement of foreign terrorist fighters and raising and moving funds to support their operations.” 

Hundreds of ISIS fighters escaped from Sirte during a seven-month campaign to oust the jihadist group from the coastal city, which it seized two years ago.

Sheltering in desert camps, fugitive militants have become emboldened in recent weeks, occasionally setting up checkpoints on roads to the south and east of Sirte.

This has seen two deadly attacks against local forces.

The US, which provided air support for the Sirte campaign, has conducted three sets of air strikes on the camps – one in January, one on September 22 and one on Tuesday.

After the first strikes some wounded militants were detained and “materials” seized.

Sadiq al-Sour, head of investigations for the Attorney General’s office, said ISIS had established a “desert army” led by Libyan militant al-Mahdi Salem Dangou, also known as Abu Barakat.

He said: “This army was established after the liberation of the city of Sirte. Now they are in the Libyan desert.”

Libya has been in chaos since the 2011 fall and summary execution of brutal dictator Colonel Gadaffi in a NATO-backed uprising.

Jihadists, arms dealers and human traffickers have flooded the North African country as multiple authorities and dozens of militias vie for power.