American special operations troops have for the first time started directly supporting Libyan forces battling ISIS in their key stronghold of Sirte, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.
US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Post the commandos were working from a joint operations center on the outskirts of Sirte.
The Pentagon last week announced it had started an air campaign in Sirte following a request for help from the Libyan Government of National Accord.
The Post said the US forces are operating alongside British troops, and are helping to coordinate American airstrikes and providing intelligence to partner forces.
The Pentagon would not comment on the specifics of the Post story, but has previously acknowledged small US teams are helping gather intelligence in Libya.
“The US is providing unique capabilities -- notably intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and precision strikes -- that will help enable GNA-aligned forces to make a decisive, strategic advance,” Pentagon spokeswoman Henrietta Levin said in a statement.
“A small number of US forces have gone in and out of Libya to exchange information with local forces, and they will continue to do so as we strengthen the fight against ISIL and other terrorist organizations,” she added, using another acronym for ISIS.
Citing unnamed officers allied with the Libyan government and Western security officials, the Post also said American and British “personnel” in body armor and wearing military fatigues had been seen in Sirte several times...
[AFP/alarabiya.net]
10/8/16
--
-
Related:
US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Post the commandos were working from a joint operations center on the outskirts of Sirte.
The Pentagon last week announced it had started an air campaign in Sirte following a request for help from the Libyan Government of National Accord.
The Post said the US forces are operating alongside British troops, and are helping to coordinate American airstrikes and providing intelligence to partner forces.
The Pentagon would not comment on the specifics of the Post story, but has previously acknowledged small US teams are helping gather intelligence in Libya.
“The US is providing unique capabilities -- notably intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and precision strikes -- that will help enable GNA-aligned forces to make a decisive, strategic advance,” Pentagon spokeswoman Henrietta Levin said in a statement.
“A small number of US forces have gone in and out of Libya to exchange information with local forces, and they will continue to do so as we strengthen the fight against ISIL and other terrorist organizations,” she added, using another acronym for ISIS.
- The Pentagon said the Libyan government has established joint operations rooms, but stressed they are away from the front lines.
Citing unnamed officers allied with the Libyan government and Western security officials, the Post also said American and British “personnel” in body armor and wearing military fatigues had been seen in Sirte several times...
[AFP/alarabiya.net]
10/8/16
--
-
Related:
Operation Odyssey Lightning : US Forces Conduct 9 Airstrikes in Libya in Support of Anti-ISIS Operation
Obama, Clinton Bear ‘Direct Responsibility’ of Destabilizing Middle East – Trump
Operation Odyssey Lighting : Obama to Discuss Ousting ISIS/ISIL with US Military, Security Leaders
Libyan Presidential Council summons French ambassador over military intervention
French, British, US Soldiers ‘Monitoring’ Libya
Three French soldiers killed in Libya, defence ministry says
GR
FR
DE
ES
IT
RU
EU
Libyan forces battling to oust Islamic State from Sirte said they had made significant advances on Wednesday, gaining control of a large convention center previously used as a base by the jihadist group...
ReplyDelete"Our forces have complete control of the whole of the Ouagadougou (convention) complex - they even advanced some distance beyond the complex," said Rida Issa, a spokesman in the forces' media office. Fighters also captured Sirte's hospital and university complex, he said.
REUTERS