The New York Times reported that over 10 days in late September, four strikes killed 43 ISIS militants — or about one-third of the group’s estimated 150 fighters in Libya — including some important commanders and recruiters, citing statements by officials at the headquarters of the Pentagon’s Africa Command.
The strikes, which other officials said were carried out by Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drones based in neighboring Niger, came as the ISIS had increased recruiting and attacks in recent months in the largely ungoverned spaces of southwest Libya.
The New York Times cited Rear Adm. Heidi Berg, the command’s director of intelligence, as saying that the most critical, enduring weakness for both ISIS Libya and A.Q.I.M. is recruitmen.
“The setbacks for ISIS in Libya come as the global terrorist group is scrambling to regain momentum after the death of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in an American commando raid in northwestern Syria on Oct. 26 and the announcement soon after of Mr. al-Baghdadi’s successor, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi al-Qurayshi.” The New York Times reported.
ISIS militants are still trying to have a foothold in Libya after they lost their stronghold in Sirte in December 2016. Yet, they are being undermined by the Libyan National Army military campaign against them amid with the AFRICOM strikes that have managed to limit their movements across the country.
