OPINION:
In a shining example of the Obama administration’s successful foreign policy in Libya (tongue in cheek), senior ISIS commanders from Iraq and Syria have been taking refuge in Libya as they view the North African nation as a safe haven. Specifically, the terrorists have been gathering in Sirte, which is the former hometown of former Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi. ISIS fighters took the town from Libyan armed forces last year.
Ismail Shukri, the head of intelligence in the city of Misrata, said, “The majority [of ISIS fighters in Sirte] are foreigners, around 70%. Most of them are Tunisians, followed by Egyptians, Sudanese and a few Algerians. Add to that the Iraqis and the Syrians. Most of the Iraqis come from Saddam Hussein’s disbanded army,” reported the BBC. “Some of their members, especially those with long-term importance to IS, are taking refuge here. They view Libya as a safe haven.”
Mohammed al-Bayoudi, a commander with Battalion 166, acknowledged that, without international help, they would not be able to defeat ISIS. “Certainly we would welcome Nato support. But air strikes alone cannot defeat IS. What the army really needs is logistical support.”
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that unless they procure weapons of mass destruction the U.S. had no plans to militarily intervene against them in Libya, reasoning that it is up to the Libyans to do that, reported RUDAW.
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