US Strike in Libya Killed Three, But Growing Doubts Target Was Among Them

Officials Unclear Who Was Actually Slain in Strike

A US airstrike overnight yesterday in Libya was initially reported to have killed al-Qaeda figure Mokhtar Belmokhtar, but after Libyan officials initially “confirmed” this they followed up by saying they were unsure who was actually killed in the US Strike.

The strike targeted a farm near Benghazi, where US officials believed Belmokhtar was in a meeting. Three people were killed in the strike, but no one has been conclusively identified, and there appears to be growing doubt over Belmokhtar being among them.

Belmokhtar was a figure within al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and had claimed credit for the 2013 Ameriras hostage-taking incident in Algeria, in which 39 hostages and 29 militants were slain. He had been listed by the State Department as a terrorist financier since 2003.

Belmokhtar had been falsely reported slain several times in the past, only to reemerge publicly, and officials seem less eager to claim conclusively that they have him this time, because these false reports are getting a bit embarrassing.

Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz

Russia Warns Norway that Presence of US Marines 'Destabilizing' Region - June 25th, 2017
US Would Have 'No Problem' With Syrian Forces Attacking ISIS - June 25th, 2017
Israel Continues Airstrikes Against Syria, Killing Two Civilians - June 25th, 2017
Yemen to Probe Interrogation Abuses by UAE, US - June 25th, 2017
Yemen to Probe Interrogation Abuses by UAE, US - June 25th, 2017

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is news editor of Antiwar.com. View all posts by Jason Ditz

Click here to hide comments

salem

Once again,the US has been fooled by bunch of Sociopaths,Hater and the so called Internationally recognized Libyan government in Tobruk,to carry out air strikes on their adversaries by lying to the Americans about who really was there.The US had no evidence whatsoever to whom they were targeting,they were acting upon information supplied by the Tobruk based government ,and more likely those who were targeted were faction opposed to that government which did not see it urgent to target the biggest and most dangerous threat of ISIS in Sirte whom the Tobruk government has totally ignored and somehow supported while in the same time attacking forces who are fighting ISIS and fuel ships.
EME

No doubt the flunkies in the USG corporate media would spare
no expense to demonize Russia and China if they committed the
(same) kind of extrajudicial killings and murdering of innocent
civilians the thugs in the Oboomer administration are involved
with around the planet.

The situation can (only) get worse with another bush imbecile
waiting on deck.
didi

The resilience of these movements is amazing. They are like hydra heads. There always arise new leaders.
dionoia

And what the hell are U.S. airstrikes doing in Libya in the first place?
- huckleberry
  
  I feel that these killing strikes had something to do with the Killary's prez run. Many have been RE-questioning her Benghazi actions as SOS, and she does not want to have to talk about it, these days. So, since she is the chosen one, the phony new attacks had to somehow "make it right" for her.
Sam

The U.S. corporate media has gone past the stage of fawning to the U.S. military. Is this not the umpteenth time that the media has reported "#2" has been killed? It has gone from being humorous to being sickening. As the comment above states perfectly, there is no legitimate reason for a country to bomb another country to play some game of "gotcha" Think about the exiles from South America and some smaller countries in the U.S. If one on those countries sent a drone to Pittsburgh and "got" the #2 man in their anti-government hit list, the U.S. media would be shouting "national sovereignty" and "outrage" over and over. But if the U.S. military does it, it is "cool" and "brave".