Notorious Algerian terrorist Mokhtar Belmokhtar has been killed in a US air strike in Libya, the strife-torn country's internationally-recognised government says.
"American jets conducted an operation which resulted in the deaths of Mokhtar Belmokhtar and a group of Libyans belonging to a terrorist organisation in eastern Libya," a statement posted on Facebook said.
The operation took place "after consultation with the Libyan transitional government" based in the eastern city of Tobruk, the statement added.
One-eyed Islamist commander Belmokhtar was the leader of the north African Al-Murabitoun militant group and a former chief of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
Wanted for terrorist activities in several countries, he was the alleged mastermind behind a 2013 siege of an Algerian gas plant in which 38 mostly Western hostages were killed.
The Pentagon said yesterday (local time) Belmokhtar was the target of the air strike, but would not confirm Libyan claims he had been killed.
"I can confirm that the target of last night's counterterrorism strike in Libya was Mokhtar Belmokhtar," Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steve Warren said in a statement.
"The strike was carried out by US aircraft. We are continuing to assess the results of the operation and will provide more details as appropriate."
Belmokhtar was previously thought to have been killed in Mali in 2013, but security sources later revealed he had moved into Libya.
The Al-Murabitoun group was born out of a merger between Belmokhtar's "Signatories in Blood" and MUJAO, one of the jihadist groups that had seized control of northern Mali in early 2012 to 2013.
Al-Murabitoun last month said it had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State jihadist group - but Belmokhtar immediately distanced himself from the declaration, in what was interpreted as evidence of a power struggle within the group.
Libya has descended into chaos since a NATO-backed revolt unseated longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.
The country has rival governments and parliaments, and powerful militias are battling for influence and a share of its oil wealth.
Extremist groups have exploited the lawlessness, which has also prompted a huge influx of migrants trying to make the dangerous crossing to Europe.
AFP
source: newshub archive
