15-21 Nov: LNA Planes and US Drones Launch Airstrikes Against ISIS South of Sirte

Nov 21, 2017 | ISIS

On 15 November, the Libyan National Army (LNA) said it had conducted two airstrikes against an ISIS target in the desert southeast of Sirte. According to an LNA air force commander, the target was a storage facility and hideout for ISIS fighters 90km south of Harawah. The site was reportedly being used as base from which to launch attacks.

On 17 November, the US conducted a drone strike against ISIS targets in the desert south of Sirte. It was reportedly successful, but no information has yet been officially released. According to a US defence official quoted by Fox News, the strike killed several ISIS fighters. The strike was the US’s first airstrike in Libya for two months.

Sirte is suffering from administrative carnage and a lack of security apparatus in the city. Col. al-Zarroug al-Sweti, head of the Government of National Accord (GNA) security sector reactivation committee in Sirte, said on 16 November that the city is still having major problems building a proper security structure. It also continues to face problems bringing local militias from the al-Bunyan al-Marsus (BM) alliance under control. The city continues to face widespread looting as well as shortages and high prices.