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US says mulling possible ‘military options’ in Libya

Wednesday, 27 January 2016 11:41 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 28 January 2016 2:17 AM ]

Daesh militants in the northern Libyan city of Sirte (file photo)

The United States is considering possible “military options” against the growing presence of Daesh in Libya, Pentagon says.

The Takfiri terrorist group’s “metastasis” from Syria and Iraq to Libya and its increasing influence in the north African country is a "significant concern," said Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook on Thursday. "We're looking at military options, a range of other options as... the situation in Libya unfolds."

Libya has been grappling with violence and political uncertainty since the oil-rich country’s former dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, was deposed and later killed in 2011.

The terrorists have exploited the chaos in Libya and seized parts of Sirte, a city on the country’s Mediterranean coast. Over the last few weeks they have been launching attacks against oil facilities spread out along the country’s coast.

"We want to be prepared, as the Department of Defense always wants to be prepared, in the event that Daesh in Libya becomes more of a threat than it is even today," Cook noted.

Last week, US Joint chiefs of staff chairman General Joseph Dunford said that he was getting prepared for “decisive military action” against the Takfiri group in Libya.

The US has already initiated some military actions in the Libya. Last November, it killed two top Daesh commanders with an airstrike.

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