(INTRO)The Pentagon has confirmed that American F-15 fighter jets struck an Islamic State training camp in Libya early on Friday morning. The site was close to the Tunisian border and may have killed a senior figure responsible for two deadly attacks on foreign tourists in Tunisia last year. Here's our Washington Correspondent Daniel Ryntjes…
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The camp had been under surveillance for some time, but a decision was taken to strike with F15 fighters and drone aircraft because the group had gathered to carry out unusual firearms training and were practicing maneuvers they believed were consistent with preparations for an imminent terrorist attack, according to Pentagon Spokesman Peter Cook.
SOUNDBITE: Peter Cook, Pentagon Spokesman
"Overnight we conducted an airstrike in Libya, targeting an ISIL training camp near Sabratha and Noureddine Chouchane a.k.a 'Sabir', a Tunisian national who was an ISIL senior facilitator in Libya associated with the training camp. We took this action against Sabir and the training camp after determining that both he and the ISIL fighters at these facilities were planning external attacks on U.S. and other western interests in the region."
Chouchane was named as a suspect involved in the terrorist attack at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis last March which killed more than 20, mostly foreign tourists. Officials also suspect that he was involved in the Sousse beach resort attack, which killed 38, including 30 Britons last June.
Though the Pentagon says this is not the start of a sustained US military campaign, US intelligence agencies have identified several training camps in Libya.
SOUNDBITE: Peter Cook, Pentagon Spokesman
"As you know, this is not the first time we have taken direct action in Libya or against other high-value ISIL targets, and it may not be the last. We will continue to target ISIL and its infrastructure wherever it exists, and when opportunities such as this emerge we will exploit them."
The US is hoping that a unity government will be successfully formed in Libya before considering a sustained military campaign, which along with further airstrikes might include US special forces on the ground.
Libya has become an increasing area of concern for American officials, given evidence of mounting numbers of foreign fighters there - and that Libya is being used as a base to expand its influence in Africa and mount terrorist attacks abroad.
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