Obama vows to fight Daesh in Libya if necessary
US President Barack Obama has vowed to fight Daesh (ISIL) beyond Iraq and Syria if necessary, indicating that Washington is ready to take on the terrorist group in Libya.
Obama convened a meeting of the White House National Security Council (NSC) on Thursday to discuss the issue of Daesh, which has reportedly established a foothold in the North African country amid a worsening security situation there.
"The President emphasized that the United States will continue to counter ISIL 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 ISIL has sought to establish a presence," it added.
Earlier on Thursday, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter warned that Daesh terrorists are establishing training sites in Libya and recruiting foreign fighters.
Washington is "developing options for what we might do in the future," Carter told reporters in Washington, DC.
"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,” he added.
"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 stated.
Libya has slid into turmoil since the ouster of former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
The country has now two rival governments. One is based in the capital of Tripoli and the other one is based in Tobruk, a port city on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast. The two governments have failed to agree on a UN-proposed unity government.
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