During the emergency meeting of the Arab League, Foreign Minister of Libya Mohammed al-Dairi asked allies for military aid to support his army.
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Following Tuesday’s meeting, the Arab League called in a statement for a strategy to be drafted to outline military support for Libya against IS, which recently seized control of the coastal city of Sirte.
“The Libyan government…calls for conducting airstrikes against [IS] on Libyan territories”, he added.
“Arab countries need the help of the Great Powers, which must provide immediate assistance in this case”, said Abed Alsalam Ismael, an expert on Libyan politics, in an interview with euronews in Cairo. “Libya is suffering and we are fed up with the atrocities of the terrorist groups”.
The rise of the Islamic State along Libya’s northeastern coast, meanwhile, has drawn increasing concern among European and Arab powers, particularly Egypt, which shares a long and porous border with Libya. It didn’t elaborate. Egypt had previously hit IS locations in Libya several times, including a series of airstrikes after the militant group killed 21 Egyptian hostages there.
Arab army chiefs have so far met twice in Cairo to work out the details of building the force after it was approved by Arab leaders at a summit in March. Arab League nations are slated to meet again on August. 27 in Cairo. The UN members are concerned that weapons could fall into the hands of any number of armed groups.
Al-Dairi said UN-brokered talks to form a national unity government should not “obstruct” arming the military to fight IS.
“What is surprising is that double standard with which the global community is dealing with the threats of Daesh”, Mr Adel said.
ISIL is a violent extremist religious group occupying large areas in Iraq and Syria.
Al Tunaiji underscored that the UAE backs the efforts led by the global body to implement the worldwide resolutions.
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“The decision came after audits carried out by security teams in… eastern and western Libyan airports”, Tunisia’s transport ministry said.
