And Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said today that two of their embassy staffers held hostage since November 28 – Sladjana Stankovic, a communications officer, and Jovica Stepic, a driver – were killed in the us strikes.
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They had been abducted in the coastal city of Sabratha, located 70 kilometers (42 miles) west of Tripoli, on November 8 previous year, when militants launched a surprise attack on their diplomatic convoy.
Two Serbian nationals held hostage in Libya since November were among those killed in Friday’s air strikes by U.S. warplanes, the Serbian government says. The Pentagon estimated that up to 60 militants were located at the training camp.
“Apparently, the Americans were not aware that foreign citizens were being kept there”, Vucic told reporters. “I am certain that after this incident in which Serbian civilians were a collateral damage, the exchange of operational intelligence will be highly intensified”.
‘On the other hand, the American administration said it was an (ISIS) training camp, ‘ Dacic said.
“At this point, we feel good that both were taken out in this strike”, he said, adding that while the number of deaths is yet to be determined, a significant number of ISIL fighters were there at the time.
“Any interference, similar to the one that has taken place, will be considered an open and flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the Libyan state and worldwide law”, the statement said.
Dacic offered “sincere condolences to the families of the victims”, saying they had been informed of the news and that the repatriation of bodies would be organised in the coming days. Chouchane was said to be involved in at least two terror attacks a year ago in Tunisia that left over 50 dead. The suspects were trained at Sabratha and wanted to carry out attacks in Tunisia, said the ministry. Libya’s United Nations-backed Presidential Council announced the formation of a revised national unity government earlier this week, with its members expected to be named on Saturday.
They were in a convoy of cars, in which Serbian ambassador Oliver Potezica was also travelling with his family, although he managed to escape the abductors.
Since 2014 Libya has had two competing governments, one based in Tripoli and the other, which has received worldwide recognition, in the east. Both sides are supported by loose alliances of former rebels and armed brigades.
As Islamic State has expanded in the north African country, taking over the city of Sirte and attacking oil ports, calls have increased for a swift Western response to stop the group establishing itself outside its territory in Iraq and Syria.
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Peter Cook also said that the airstrikes in Libya were conducted with the knowledge of the Libyan government and in accordance with worldwide law. Another government, backed by Islamist-affiliated militias known as Libya Dawn, controls Tripoli and much of western Libya.
