Libyan forces allied with the U.N.-backed government fire a 122 MM artillery towards Islamic State fighters positions in Sirte, Libya Reuters/Goran Tomasevic

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military conducted air strikes on Monday targeting Islamic State militants in the Libyan city of Sirte, the Pentagon said in a statement.

The strikes were requested by Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) and were authorized by President Barack Obama following a recommendation by U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford, the Pentagon said.

Additional U.S. strikes against Islamic State in Sirte will "enable the GNA to make a decisive, strategic advance," the statement added.