The French newspaper Le Monde reported on Wednesday that French
special forces and intelligence commandos were engaged in "a secret war"
against Islamic State in Libya in conjunction with the United States
and Britain.
Libyan
soldiers stand at a military outpost in Wadi Bey, west of the Islamic
State-held city of Sirte, February 23, 2016
French military advisers have been helping coordinate Libyan forces fighting Islamic State insurgents in the eastern city of Benghazi, where pro-government brigades have been making progress, a senior Libyan military commander said on Thursday.
It was the latest sign of U.S. and European
engagement in trying to restore some order and security in anarchic
Libya, where Western governments are looking to help local forces stop
Islamic State expanding beyond its bastions in Iraq and Syria.
"The
French military group in Benghazi are just military advisers who
provide consultations to the Libyan National Army in its battle against
terrorism, but they are not fighting with our Libyan forces," special forces commander Wanis Bukhamada told Reuters. There was no immediate French comment.
The
French newspaper Le Monde reported on Wednesday that French special
forces and intelligence commandos were engaged in "a secret war" against
Islamic State in Libya in conjunction with the United States and
Britain. France's Defence Ministry declined comment on the report.
Libyan military forces in Benghazi are under the command of General Khalifa Haftar
and loyal to the North African country's government based in the
eastern city of al-Bayda. A rival armed faction took over the capital
Tripoli in the far west in 2014 and set up its own self-declared
government.
Haftar's forces have been advancing
against Islamic State in Benghazi, taking back neighbourhoods in the
country's biggest eastern city that had been under militant control for
months.
Western officials have said they are
discussing possible air strikes and special forces operations against
Islamic State in Libya, where militants have exploited a breakdown of
state order since the 2011 uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi to
seize control of some towns.
Last Friday a U.S. air strike targeted Islamist militants in the western Libyan city of Sabratha, killing more than 40.
Western
officials say any deeper international military involvement, such as
training missions or a proposed Italian-led security stabilisation
force, will require a request from a U.N.-backed Libyan national unity
government.
The United Nations has been trying to
bring the country's rival factions together in a unity government. A
presidential council has been formed, but hardliners are resisting a
vote in Libya's elected parliament to approve the new government.
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