The Daily Star's FREE newsletter is spectacular! Sign up today for the best stories straight to your inbox Sign up today! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

(Image: AFP/GETTY/REUTERS)

Abu Nabil was killed after American jets pounded a compound in the city of Derna on November 13.

The raid came hours after the deadly terror attacks in Paris.

It is the first confirmation from the US that Nabil, also known as Wissam Najm Abd Zayd al Zubaydl, was killed.

(Image: AFP)

He said military action represented a significant blow to the group.

In a statement, Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said: "On November 13 the US military conducted an airstrike in Libya against Abu Nabil, aka Wissam Najm Abd Zayd al Zubaydi, an Iraqi national who was a long time al-Qaida operative and the senior ISIL leader in Libya.

"Reporting suggests he may also have been the spokesman in the February 2015 Coptic Christian execution video.

"Nabil's death with degrade ISIL's ability to meet the group's objectives in Libya, including recruiting new ISIL members, establishing bases in Libya and planning external attacks on the United States.

Nabil was the top ISIS – also known as Daesh – leader in the nation.

Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis confirmed a senior leader of the al Qaeda-affiliated group al Shabaab was killed in a US air strike in Somalia carried out on December. 2.

Abdirahman Sandhere, also known as Ukash, was willed in the strike.

(Image: EPA)

"While not the first US strike against terrorists in Libya, this is the first US strike against an ISIL leader in Libya and it demonstrates we will go after ISIL leaders wherever they operate."

The UK launched bombing raids against ISIS targets in Syria last week but was forced to ground planes for essential maintenance work.