US B-2 bombers struck and destroyed two ISIS camps in Libya overnight, with initial estimates that over 80 militants were killed, US officials told CNN Thursday.

The mission, which was confirmed in a later Pentagon statement and is expected to be the last, short-notice military operation ordered by President Barack Obama, was approved several days ago by the President, according to sources.
"They (the ISIS fighters) posed a security threat to Libya, the region, and US national interests," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in a statement. "While we are still evaluating the results of the strikes, the initial assessment indicates they were successful."
A US defense official said the militants were seen immediately beforehand carrying weapons, wearing tactical vests, holding mortars and standing in formation. The number killed was not released by the Pentagon, but the initial estimate put the figure at over 80. There were no women or children in the area, the official said.
US surveillance aircraft had been watching the sites for weeks as fighters fled from Sirte on the coastline into what they perceived to be the safety of remote desert areas. But the isolation of the area gave those surveillance aircraft clear imagery showing military-aged males in several areas, according to officials.
The two camps that were destroyed were located about 28 miles southwest of Sirte, the Pentagon said.
In addition to the B-2 bombers, unmanned aircraft also took part in the strikes, the defense official said.
The strike did not happen initially because the rudimentary camps had moved and surveillance had to be conducted again.
The B-2s heavy bombers flying from the US were planning to bomb four camps, according to initial reports. Some of the sites may have been empty, with fighters having moved again. US Navy warships equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles were also on standby but initial reports indicate they were not needed.
The President's approval of the strike underscores in the closing hours of his administration the difficulty of targeting ISIS fighters in dozens of countries around the world. Obama has increasingly relied on armed drones, bombers and special forces on the ground to go after these types of targets in Syria and Iraq.
"We are committed to maintaining pressure on ISIL and preventing them from establishing safe haven," Cook said, using another acronym for ISIS. "These strikes will degrade ISIL's ability to stage attacks against Libyan forces and civilians working to stabilize Sirte, and demonstrate our resolve in countering the threat posed by ISIL to Libya, the United States and our allies."

US B-2 bombers struck and destroyed two ISIS camps in Libya overnight, with initial estimates that over 80 militants were killed, US officials told CNN Thursday.

The mission, which was confirmed in a later Pentagon statement and is expected to be the last, short-notice military operation ordered by President Barack Obama, was approved several days ago by the President, according to sources.
"They (the ISIS fighters) posed a security threat to Libya, the region, and US national interests," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in a statement. "While we are still evaluating the results of the strikes, the initial assessment indicates they were successful."
A US defense official said the militants were seen immediately beforehand carrying weapons, wearing tactical vests, holding mortars and standing in formation. The number killed was not released by the Pentagon, but the initial estimate put the figure at over 80. There were no women or children in the area, the official said.
US surveillance aircraft had been watching the sites for weeks as fighters fled from Sirte on the coastline into what they perceived to be the safety of remote desert areas. But the isolation of the area gave those surveillance aircraft clear imagery showing military-aged males in several areas, according to officials.
The two camps that were destroyed were located about 28 miles southwest of Sirte, the Pentagon said.
In addition to the B-2 bombers, unmanned aircraft also took part in the strikes, the defense official said.
The strike did not happen initially because the rudimentary camps had moved and surveillance had to be conducted again.
The B-2s heavy bombers flying from the US were planning to bomb four camps, according to initial reports. Some of the sites may have been empty, with fighters having moved again. US Navy warships equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles were also on standby but initial reports indicate they were not needed.
The President's approval of the strike underscores in the closing hours of his administration the difficulty of targeting ISIS fighters in dozens of countries around the world. Obama has increasingly relied on armed drones, bombers and special forces on the ground to go after these types of targets in Syria and Iraq.
"We are committed to maintaining pressure on ISIL and preventing them from establishing safe haven," Cook said, using another acronym for ISIS. "These strikes will degrade ISIL's ability to stage attacks against Libyan forces and civilians working to stabilize Sirte, and demonstrate our resolve in countering the threat posed by ISIL to Libya, the United States and our allies."

I understand that, perm, and actually I do not remember blowing up a warehouse of cash...Whose cash was it and did we get to keep it in partial payment of the bombs we used??

War has consequences, none we want to admit...PC in wars do not mix well..It prolongs the end result, doesn't it??

Choice?? Never when in war..It doesn't help anything but move us closer to isolation and vengence..As we see in the Middle East...

Perma-you are correct that the weapons were left behind by the Iraqi army when they ran. The reason they ran is that they lacked leadership and training which was being provided by the USA. When the USA troops were pulled out prematurely, due to Obama not attempting to renew the Status of Forces agreement, the Iraqi army was basically rudderless. Had we left troops there as recommended by the Sec of Defense and all Senior Military Commanders, Iraq would probably as stable now as it was when Bush left. You are wrong about the Swamp and the fellow Russian lovers. Nobody on this forum loves the Russian government, however, the more informed on this forum know that we are much better off maintaining a cordial/working relationship with Russia until we both defeat ISIS and build up our depleted military force. If Russia decided to ally with China, North Korea and Iran in a military confrontation against us, we would be hard pressed to hold our own. Teddy Roosevelt said, "walk softly and carry a big stick". Right now we do not have that big stick and would be wise to be firm but non-confrontational. One cannot flex weakened muscles. Lets get our economy humming, secure our borders, negotiate good trade deals, rebuild our infrastructure while beefing up our forces. In a few years we can once again be the big dog on the campus. PS. Maliki did want to put our troops under Iraqi jurisdiction but his mind could have been changed very easily by a strong president. Truman would have probably said, " President Maliki, the USA spent billions/trillions of dollars and thousands of lives liberating your country. We will protect our investment with your cooperation or without. What would you like to do ?" Good Luck America !!!

Perma-you are correct that the weapons were left behind by the Iraqi army when they ran. The reason they ran is that they lacked leadership and training which was being provided by the USA. When the USA troops were pulled out prematurely, due to Obama not attempting to renew the Status of Forces agreement, the Iraqi army was basically rudderless. Had we left troops there as recommended by the Sec of Defense and all Senior Military Commanders, Iraq would probably as stable now as it was when Bush left. You are wrong about the Swamp and the fellow Russian lovers. Nobody on this forum loves the Russian government, however, the more informed on this forum know that we are much better off maintaining a cordial/working relationship with Russia until we both defeat ISIS and build up our depleted military force. If Russia decided to ally with China, North Korea and Iran in a military confrontation against us, we would be hard pressed to hold our own. Teddy Roosevelt said, "walk softly and carry a big stick". Right now we do not have that big stick and would be wise to be firm but non-confrontational. One cannot flex weakened muscles. Lets get our economy humming, secure our borders, negotiate good trade deals, rebuild our infrastructure while beefing up our forces. In a few years we can once again be the big dog on the campus. PS. Maliki did want to put our troops under Iraqi jurisdiction but his mind could have been changed very easily by a strong president. Truman would have probably said, " President Maliki, the USA spent billions/trillions of dollars and thousands of lives liberating your country. We will protect our investment with your cooperation or without. What would you like to do ?" Good Luck America !!!

Linda,

this was all over about a year ago, this short pc from Fox news.. you can watch video if you wish..

US airstrike in Mosul blows up 'millions' in ISIS cash
Published January 11, 2016 FoxNews.com
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Where does ISIS get money to fund terror business?
An airstrike by the U.S. blew up an ISIS warehouse in Mosul, Iraq where the terror group stored the equivalent of millions of dollar in cash to finance their operations, a senior U.S. defense official told Fox News on Monday.

The cash storage facility in the Iraqi city was hit by two 2,000-pound bombs, according to the official.

It was unknown how much money was in the facility, but it is estimated to be “in the millions,” the defense official said.

U.S. airstrikes have previously hit “one or two” cash facilities used by ISIS.

ISIS has used a robust taxation system across territory it controls to ensure that oil isn’t the only source of money flowing into terrorists’ coffers, an investigation last month revealed.

Even if coalition airstrikes succeed in bringing down ISIS’ production of oil -- which nets the terror group an estimated $450 million in revenues each year – a small army of tax collectors is raking in nearly as much, the Financial Times reported.

Western intelligence officials, former ISIS fighters and Syrians and Iraqis within