The strike in the town of Darnah in eastern Libya was aimed at Abu Nabil, also known as Wissam Najm Abd Zayd al Zubaydi. He is an Iraqi national who led Qaeda operations in western Iraq, along the corridor between Falluja and Ramadi, from 2004 until 2010. He later moved to eastern Libya to lead Islamic State operations there, the officials said.
The planes are based in Britain. It is not clear if the planes flew directly from Britain with aerial refueling or if they staged to a base in Greece or Italy first. Nor is it clear how many aircraft participated, with only the plural "planes" in the story implying at least a pair.
We apparently believe we killed Nabil.
The attack was planned before the ISIL strike on Paris.
You may also know the city as Derne. I think American forces were last there in 1805.
UPDATE: The notion that enemies will try to attack and win rather than patiently wait for us to set up the perfect killing blow seems to elude people:
Defying Western efforts to confront the Islamic State on the battlefield, the group has evolved in its reach and organizational ability, with increasingly dangerous hubs outside Iraq and Syria and strategies that call for using spectacular acts of violence against civilians.
I just don't understand why it is so shocking that an enemy will use time when we grant them that most precious commodity in war.
