GETTY An SAS sniper killed two ISIS jihadis with a single shot

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The terrorists were shot dead as they drove towards their target in Libya where they planned to detonate a car bomb. The hero marksman hit the driver in the head from 1,000m, killing him instantly. The bullet passed through his skull and struck his passenger in the neck, killing him too.

If the sniper had missed a lot of people would have lost their lives SAS source

SAS agents said the incredible long-range shot is one of the best in the elite regiment’s history. The sniper had just 20 seconds to hit his target to save the lives of hundreds of civilians. One SAS source told the Daily Star Sunday: “It was an amazing shot. It wasn’t so much about distance but the fact that it was a moving target. “If the sniper had missed a lot of people would have lost their lives.”

GETTY ISIS have been gaining strength in Libya

“He was with the team advising the Libyans who were meant to be doing the ambush. He had little time to act.” The shooting took place last month while SAS members were helping militia groups fight ISIS. The elite troops received intelligence warning jihadis were planning to target the Libyan capital Tripoli.

The terrorists were planning to park a car bomb close to a busy market and kill hundreds of civilians. Libyan forces are continuing to battle against ISIS which has gained ground in several areas, including Sirte - a key town on the Middle Eastern coast. At least 10 members of the Libyan armed forces were killed in a suicide car bomb in the ISIS territory three days ago. The SAS unit - made up of four soldiers including the hero sniper and his spotter - had been training local fighters.

GETTY An elite unit has been helping local fighters battle ISIS in Libya

The troops had wanted the Libyans to take out the car and its driver after receiving a tip-off from a Libyan agent helping the British. The agent told the SAS a white 1990s Mercedes with a massive homemade bomb in the boot would be heading east on the coast road at a specific time. The SAS placed the Libyan troops above the road, giving them a perfect position to ambush the terrorists.

The fight against ISIS Fri, November 18, 2016 The battle against ISIS militants (also abbreviated as Daesh, ISIL, IS and Islamic State) continues in the Middle East. Play slideshow Getty 1 of 183 Forces battle against ISIS

But when the vehicle appeared the SAS snipper stepped in as the Libyans panicked and missed. The British sniper opened fire with his 338 Lapua Magnum rifle, letting off two shots to judge the car’s speed, distance and wind direction before firing the killer shot. An SAS source said: “He knew his first two shots wouldn’t hit the target but they helped him judge the distance. “The car crashed off the road after the driver was killed and the Libyans sprayed it with machine gun fire.

GETTY Libyan forces prepare to launch an attack against ISIS