The U.S. launched airstrikes in eastern Libya targeting a terrorist leader who was behind a 2013 attack on a gas plant in Algeria that killed at least 38 hostages, including three Americans, the Pentagon said Sunday.
The airstrikes against veteran Algerian militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar were carried out by U.S. aircraft Saturday, said Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman.
The Libyan government said the strikes were successful and killed Belmokhtar and several others in Ajdabiya, according to the Associated Press.
"Belmokhtar has a long history of leading terrorist activities," Warren said in a statement Sunday. He said Belmokhtar "maintains his personal allegiance" to al-Qaeda and "poses a continuing threat to U.S. persons."
Two F-15 fighters launched multiple 500-pound bombs in the attack, an unnamed Pentagon official told the AP.
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