US website explains how US defeated ISIS in Libya

Ahmed Sultan

On Aug. 1, 2016, a large-scale operation to push ISIS fighters out of the embattled Libyan city of Sirte was launched, the US military website Marine Corps Times said.

The fight, dubbed Operation Odyssey Lightning, would include support from attack helicopters and Harriers embarked with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and fires from the 5-inch gun aboard the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Carney.

Details of the 22nd MEU’s combat operations in Libya were detailed in command chronology, obtained through a government records request, which described the operation as “one of the largest counterterrorism campaigns to be conducted from amphibious shipping.”

That chronology also noted it was the first time that naval gunfire was coordinated from the arms coordination center in support of combat operations during the war on terrororism.

About 285 rounds fired from the Carney’s 5-inch gun were coordinated from the 22nd MEU’s amphibious assault ship Wasp, according to details in the command chronology.

The 22nd MEU flew 600 close-air support and strike missions, dropped 290 bombs, fired 164 Hellfire missiles, destroyed 25 pieces of enemy equipment and 197 defensive positions, and killed hundreds of enemy fighters in support of the Libya operation, the chronology detailed.

Following a training exercise off the coast of Morocco in July 2016, dubbed African Sea Lion, the 22nd MEU and Wasp were ordered by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa to head to the Gulf of Sidra, off the coast of Libya to “prepare for combat operations,” the command chronology detailed.

Odyssey Lightning was launched to clear ISIS fighters from the embattled city of Sirte at the request of the UN and U.S. backed Libyan Government of National Accord.

The operation would span August to Dec. 19, 2016, and was temporarily reinstated to span to Jan. 17, 2017, to strike ISIS camps outside of Sirte, according to military officials with U.S. Africa Command.