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US says Airstrike Killed Top al-Qaida Leader in Libya

by Associated Press

   BENGHAZI, LIBYA --

   The U.S. military says its airstrike last weekend in southwestern Libya
   killed two al-Qaida militants, including a top recruiter, Musa Abu
   Dawud.

   The military's Africa Command's Wednesday statement said Abu Dawud had
   trained recruits by the terror network's North Africa branch, known as
   al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.
   In 2016, the United States said Abu Dawud had been involved in
   "terrorist activity" since 1992 and labelled him a "specially
   designated global terrorist."
   AFRICOM said he "provided critical logistics support, funding and
   weapons to AQIM, enabling the terrorist group to threaten and attack
   U.S. and Western interests in the region."
   AFRICOM says the March 24 airstrike near the town of Ubari didn't kill
   any civilians.
   Islamic extremists expanded their reach in Libya amid the chaos that
   followed the 2011 uprising.