Head of US Africa Command: We do not support idea of foreign forces in Libya

The head of US Africa Command (USAFRICOM) General David M Rodriguez has said that the US does not support the idea of outside forces intervening in Libya.

In a press conference in the Tunisian capital attended by the US ambassador to Tunis, Jakes Walles, and following a meeting with Tunisia’s Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa, Rodriguez said that the US is not in favour of outside intervention in Libya, adding that his country supports a peaceful solution to the Libyan crisis.

Responding to a question regarding the recent US media reports about Egypt and the UAE intervening militarily in Libya, Rodriguez said that the international community and Libya’s neighbours are considering many options to help the country through this crisis without resorting to the intervention of foreign forces, noting that the US and other countries are involved in extensive discussions about this issue.

Rodriguez also said that the US does not think it is a good idea to bring more violence to a country that is already facing daily conflict and strife.

On Monday, the US, France, Germany, Italy and the UK issued a joint statement condemning the escalation of violence in Tripoli, Benghazi and across Libya.

The statement, released by the US State Department, called on all parties in Libya to “accept an immediate ceasefire and engage constructively in the democratic process, abstaining from confrontational initiatives that risk undermining it”.

Earlier, on Monday, the New York Times newspaper reported that according to four senior US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, “Twice in the last seven days, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have secretly launched airstrikes against Islamist-allied militias battling for control of Tripoli, Libya.”

Egypt has officially denied any involvement of Egyptian aircraft in raiding military sites in Tripoli.

Over the past week, an unknown warplane launched air strikes targeting military sites affiliated with the Libya Dawn Islamist-backed forces, which are comprised of fighters from Misrata and Tripoli. The umbrella group of militias are fighting fierce battles with the Qaaqaa and Sawaq militias, which are affiliated with the town of Zintan. The two sides have been fighting over control of the Tripoli International Airport. Libya Dawn forces announced on Saturday that they had seized the airport and declared their control over Tripoli.

By Ayman Gamali, Anadolu news agency