A US air strike has killed the leader of the Islamic State group in Libya.

The Pentagon says Iraqi national Abu Nabil was a "long-time al-Qaeda operative and the senior Isil leader in Libya", using another acronym for IS.

The strike took place on Friday night but the location has not been revealed.

The Pentagon says the strike demonstrates that it would "go after Isil leaders wherever they operate".

Press Secretary Peter Cook also confirmed the bombing had no relation to the terrorist attacks in Paris: “This operation was authorised and initiated prior to the terrorist attack in Paris.”