U.S. says Islamic State militants set up training camps in Libya

U.S. says Islamic State militants set up training camps in Libya

PanARMENIAN.Net - Islamic State militants have set up training camps in eastern Libya, the head of the U.S. Africa command said, according to BBC News.

Gen David Rodriguez said there could be "a couple of hundred'' IS fighters undergoing training at the sites. He said the camps were at a very early stage, but the US was watching them "carefully to see how it develops".

Libya has been in turmoil since Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011, with various tribes, militias and political factions fighting for power.

Several Islamist groups are competing for power in the east of the country, with some militants recently declaring allegiance to IS.

Speaking in Washington on Wednesday, Dec 3, Gen Rodriguez said it was not yet clear how closely aligned the trainees were with IS.

"It's mainly about people coming for training and logistics support right now, for training sites," he said. "Right now it's just small and very nascent and we just have to see how it goes."

In the aftermath of the revolution that ousted Gaddafi, many rebel fighters left to fight with militant groups in Syria, and some are believed to have returned home.

The elected government has lost Libya's three main cities amid the political crisis.

Benghazi, the country's second city, is in the hands of Islamist fighters, and the internationally recognised parliament is now based in the coastal town of Tobruk in the east.

 Top stories
Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive.
In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million).
The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot".
The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.
Partner news
---