Mokhtar Belmokhtar and other fighters were killed in the raid by aircraft in the eastern city of Ajdabiya, a statement from Libya’s government said.
American officials confirmed that Belmokhtar was the target of the strike, carried out by multiple American F-15E fighter jets.
It would “provide more details as appropriate” said spokesman Colonel Steve Warren.
The country’s recognised government said the strike had killed Mokhtar Belmokhtar, an Algerian militant who became a major figure in insurgencies across North Africa and the Sahel and had earned the nickname the “Uncatchable” from the French military. The U.S. informed the interim Libyan government ahead of time, the officials said.
Mokhtar Belmokhtar is the name used by an Algerian man believed to have been the military commander of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb before he left the organization to start al-Mulathameen, or the Masked Brigade.
Al-Murabitoun last month said it had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State jihadist group - but Belmokhtar immediately distanced himself from the declaration and vowed continued backing for Al Qaeda in what was interpreted as evidence of a serious power struggle within the organisation. He said the group that was wounded later fought the Libyan military that guarded the hospital there, leading to an hourslong battle.
Libyan officials gave no further details about the area of the strike.
He was charged for supporting al-Qaeda in the terrorism attack of Algeria in 2013 including the use the weapons for mass destruction, use of firearm for a crime of increasing violence and conspiring to take hostages by the Federal law enforcement officials which is punishable by death only.
Authorities also offered a 5 million dollar reward for information leading to the arrest of Belmokhtar, also known as “the one-eyed sheikh” since he lost an eye in combat. Al-Libi was accused by the U.S. of involvement in the 1998 bombings of two American embassies in Africa. Al-Libi died January this year in a United States hospital from a long-standing medical condition. Other al Qaida linked militants are believed to have been behind that attack. Clashes between the two groups in the eastern coastal city of Darna killed 11 people.
The militants group has taken the full advantage of the lawlessness of the country that has promoted a massive influx of migrants trying to make the risky Mediterranean crossing to Europe. And as the Islamic State group has grown in power, fueled by successes in Iraq and Syria, some al-Qaida fighters have switched loyalties.
The Pentagon had said earlier on Sunday that it had carried out a strike against an al Qaeda-affiliated target in Libya, but didn’t elaborate.
