Obama Vows to Counter ’ISIS’ in Libya

Local Editor

US President Barack Obama on Thursday said the United States would tackle the "ISIS" group beyond Iraq and Syria if necessary, as he signaled an increased focus on Libya.

Amid fears that a power vacuum in the north African nation has provided fertile ground for "ISIS" to grow, Obama convened his National Security Council to discuss the issue.

"The President emphasized that the United States will continue to counter "ISIS" terrorist plotters in any country where it is necessary," the White House said following the meeting.

"The President directed his national security team to continue efforts to strengthen governance and support ongoing counterterrorism efforts in Libya and other countries where "ISIS" has sought to establish a presence."

Libya has been in political turmoil and rocked by violence since the ouster of longtime dictator Moammer Gadhafi in a 2011 revolution.

It now has two governments and parliaments, with the recognized authorities based in the eastern city of Tobruk and a militia-backed authority in Tripoli.

World powers have urged Libya's warring factions to endorse the unity government formed last week under a UN-brokered deal aimed at ending the political paralysis that has fueled the rise of "ISIS" militants.

Meanwhile, Pentagon chief Ashton Carter said Thursday that the US has not decided whether to launch military action in Libya.

Washington is "developing options for what we might do in the future," Carter told reporters.

But he added: "We're watching the situation very carefully, and there's a lot going on there right now. But we haven't made any decisions to take military action there."

"We're looking to help them [the Libyans] get control over their own country and, of course, the United States will support the Libyan government when it forms," he said.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team