WASHINGTON — The Pentagon says the U.S. Air Force has carried out its first Predator missile strike in Libya.

A Pentagon spokesman, Navy Capt. Darryn James, said the airstrike happened Saturday. He provided no details.

On Thursday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates disclosed that President Barack Obama had approved the use of armed Predator drones to improve the precision of strikes on Libyan government forces.

Predators had previously been used in Libya only for surveillance missions.