No Result
View All Result
Saturday, October 18, 2025
23 °c
Tripoli
24 ° Sat
24 ° Sun
  • Advertising
  • Contact
LibyaHerald
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
LibyaHerald
No Result
View All Result
Home Libya

US Libya airstrike kills seven terror suspects including Algerian AQIM leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar

byNigel Ash
June 15, 2015
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
US Libya airstrike kills seven terror suspects including Algerian AQIM leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar

Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the AQIM leader behind the Algerian gas plant massacre (file photo)

By Adam Ali.

Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the AQIM leader behind the Algerian gas plant massacre (file photo)
Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the AQIM leader behind the Algerian gas plant massacre (file photo)

Benghazi 14 June 2015:

In what could be the first extension of the Washington-led air war against terrorists in Syria . . .[restrict]and Iraq, the US today killed seven leading members of Libya’s Al-Qaeda-linked Ansar Al-Sharia in an airstrike on a farm outside Ajdabiya.

One of the victims of the raid, which happened at 2am this morning, was the Algerian Mokhtar Belmokhtar, former leader of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) who was accused of organising the January 2013 attack on Algeria’s desert  Im-Amenas gas processing plant, in which 39 hostages and an Algerian guard died.

Belmokhtar, 43, also known as Khaled Abou El Abbas or Laaouar, is believed to have survived an assassination attempt in Qasr Ben Gashir last year. He was known to have been in Sirte recently. Last December there was a mystery helicopter attack on a camp near Traghen, south of Sebha which was believed to house militants connected with Belmokhtar.

RELATED POSTS

Top law firm joins new British Libyan Business Association

An academy with a difference in Tripoli

This morning’s raid reportedly targeted a farm, 18 kilometres outside Ajdabiya which is owned by Al-Saadi al-Nofali, one of Ansar’s leaders in the town. It is understood that a number of senior militants was meeting there. Locals reported an earth-shattering explosion which they compared to the bomb and missile strikes during the NATO air war during the revolution. A  photo clearly taken several hours after the attack, when it was light,  shows a distant plume of black smoke .

Smoke said to be rising from the farm after the US attack (photo: social media)
Smoke said to be rising from the farm after the US attack (photo: social media)

Washington earlier this evening confirmed the raid against a “mid-level Al-Qaeda operative in Libya” but declined to give a location. Pentagon spokesman Col Steve Warren said that it was thought that the raid had been successful but the outcome was still being assessed. However, ABC later quoted a government official confirming that the target had been Belmokhtar, who could hardly be described as a mid-level commander.

To have mounted such a strike precisely when senior terror suspects were meeting suggests a high level of intelligence.

The government in Beida issued a statement that said that the US had consulted it in advance of the raid.

“The Libyan government confirms that this operation is part of the international support which has long been called for by the interim Libyan government to fight terrorism, which has become a dangerous obsession at the regional and international situation”. It called for further “consultation and co-ordination” to counter IS control of Sirte, its westward push toward Misrata, to the south toward Jufra and its drive into the oil crescent”.

A local in Ajdabiya told the Libya Herald this evening that Ansar, IS and Ajdabiya Shura Council members had tended to mix. The roadblock near the farm attacked this morning, initially assumed to be the target, was generally manned by militants from all three groups.

After the farm attack, there was an attempt to bring the wounded into town for treatment at Al-Magrief hospita. It was met with stiff resistance both from ordinary citizens but also troops from the Libya Army 151 Battalion’s base in the town, attacked last week in a property dispute and members of Ibrahim Jadhran’s Petroleum Facilities Guard.

Video footage showed locals and military units firing down a broad boulevard towards the approaching Ansar, IS and Shura Council forces. The fighting appears to have been heavy and this evening the names were released of five dead among the defenders. Two soldiers, Ahmed Elhouderi and Mograbi were killed along with civilians, Ali Younes Zatar Zwai, Ayman Alstrh Kabyle and Daud Saaiti. There were also 18 injured. Casualties among the attackers are unknown.

 

LCDF support banner [/restrict]

Tags: ajdabiyafeaturedLibyaMokhtar BelmokhtarUS raid

Related Posts

GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

Tripoli Libyan government signs MoU with Italian Chamber of Commerce to improve its media and PR output

October 18, 2025
Minister of Industry meets the Committee for Localisation of Oil Materials and Equipment Industry
Libya

Committee for Localisation of Oil Field Equipment invites local and international investors to manufacture oil materials and equipment locally

October 17, 2025
LTT and GIA sign cooperation agreement on electronic connectivity
Libya

General Information Authority organizes workshop to prepare a national strategy for artificial intelligence in cooperation with ESCWA

October 16, 2025
US conducts 57 anti IS airstrikes in Sirte
Libya

AFRICOM Deputy Commander visits Libya, announces Libyan participation in ”Exercise Flintlock 2026”

October 16, 2025
‘‘U.S. experts’’ visit Sirte’s single pivot agricultural irrigation circles – 87 irrigation circles will be restarted in 2025
Libya

National Development Authority signs contract to develop Sirte’s Mahari Hotel and the Guest Palaces area in line with Libya’s 2030 Vision

October 13, 2025
Atletico Madrid win Benghazi’s Reconstruction Cup after beating Inter Milan 4-3 on penalties – great political showpiece for Hafter
Libya

Atletico Madrid win Benghazi’s Reconstruction Cup after beating Inter Milan 4-3 on penalties – great political showpiece for Hafter

October 13, 2025
Next Post
Hafter sacks Faraj Barasi a second time

Hafter sacks Faraj Barasi a second time

Libyan oil production up to 500,000 bpd: NOC

libyaherald-Ads

Top Stories

  • Atletico Madrid win Benghazi’s Reconstruction Cup after beating Inter Milan 4-3 on penalties – great political showpiece for Hafter

    Atletico Madrid win Benghazi’s Reconstruction Cup after beating Inter Milan 4-3 on penalties – great political showpiece for Hafter

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Emirates Airlines security delegation visits Tripoli to begin Mitiga Airport inspection tour

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • After its withdrawal from circulation of certain banknotes, CBL reveals that currency printed unofficially in Russia totalled to 6.5 billion dinars

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • National Oil Corporation discusses prospects for technical cooperation with America’s Halliburton

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Economic Conference on Diversifying Sources of Income held in Tripoli

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
ADVERTISEMENT
LibyaHerald

The Libya Herald first appeared on 17 February 2012 – the first anniversary of the Libyan Revolution. Since then, it has become a favourite go-to source on news about Libya, for many in Libya and around the world, regularly attracting millions of hits.

Recent News

Tripoli Libyan government signs MoU with Italian Chamber of Commerce to improve its media and PR output

Head of Union for Renewable Energies in Libya calls on government to support renewables to save on imports and increase oil exports

Sitemap

  • Why subscribe?
  • Terms & Conditions
  • FAQs
  • Copyright & Intellectual Property Rights
  • Subscribe now

Newsletters

    Be the first to know latest important news & events directly to your inbox.

    Sending ...

    By signing up, I agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password? Sign Up

    Create New Account!

    Fill the forms below to register

    *By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
    All fields are required. Log In

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    No Result
    View All Result
    • Login
    • Sign Up
    • Libya
    • Business
    • Advertising
    • About us
    • BusinessEye Magazine
    • Letters
    • Features
    • Why subscribe?
    • FAQs
    • Contact

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.