Two Libyan officials say that a French warplane has bombed positions of Islamic militias outside the eastern city of Benghazi, killing at least 16 fighters and destroying the militias’ weapons.
The officials on Thursday told the Associated Press that the bombing came in retaliation for Sunday’s killing of members of the French special forces by the militias. France has acknowledged the killing of three of its officers and for the first time said that its forces are operating in eastern Libya.
The officials say the bombing took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, forcing the militias to retreat toward the town of Ajdabiya, west of Benghazi. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to reporters.
ap.org
