Two U.S. B-2 bombers conducted strikes on Islamic State (IS) targets in Libya overnight, destroying two camps near the Libyan city of Sirte, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

In a statement, Pentagon spokesperson Peter Cook said the IS terrorists targeted in the strikes included individuals who fled to the remote desert camps from Sirte to reorganize, and they posed a security threat to Libya, the region and U.S. national interests.

"While we are still evaluating the results of the strikes, the initial assessment indicates they were successful," Cook said. "This action was authorized by the president as an extension of the successful operation the U.S. military conducted last year to support Libyan forces in freeing Sirte from ISIL (IS) control."

A defense official told U.S. media that drones also participated in the strikes and that "several dozen" IS fighters were thought to have been killed.

source: Xinhua