US aircraft Aug. 19-21 took out dozens of ISIS fighting positions in Sirte, Libya, paving the way for an advance into the city. At the request of the Libyan Government of National Accord, US aircraft struck 25 ISIS fighting positions and two trucks over three days, US Africa Command announced. The strike brings the total in Operation Odyssey Lightning to 74 since Aug. 1. Libyan forces said on Sunday it has advanced further into the city—the last remaining stronghold of the group inside the country—reclaiming a prison ran by ISIS’ “morality police” and a mosque, Reuters reported.
The B-52H Stratofortress that crashed at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on June 15 was helping test a new advanced radar that is key to a sweeping modernization of the six-decade old bomber.