Kerry rules out US military intervention in Libya in near future

United States Secretary of State John Kerry ruled out US military intervention in Libya in the near future on Tuesday. But he said that could change if there were “some turn of events, like weapons of mass destruction ending up in the hands of the wrong people”.

The comments were made during a conference of 23 foreign ministers from nations that form the core of a coalition fighting Daesh.

Kerry and Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni expressed concern that the group were expanding its presence in Libya, joined by fighters who have been pushed out of Iraq and Syria.

“As everybody here knows, that country has resources,” Kerry said. “The last thing in the world you’d want is a false caliphate with access to billions of dollars in oil revenue.”

Regarding US President Barack Obama’s lack of desire for military intervention in the country, he said the Libyan national unity government would stop the expansion of Daesh.

He added: “The US and its European and Arab partners should increase security training and help Libya’s military, not just to clear territory, but to create a safe environment for the government to stand up and operate.”