Tripoli // Libya’s unity government on Thursday called for international backers to speed up the arming of its forces after 32 of its fighters were killed in clashes with ISIL and a car bombing.
The United States, Italy and other allies and neighbours agreed in Vienna on Monday to exempt the Government of National Accord from a UN arms embargo to help it confront the threat from the extremist group.
In a statement published on its Facebook page, the GNA urged the international community “to take responsibility and to accelerate the implementation of its promises” including the exemption to the embargo on weapons sales.
ISIL is seeking to expand westwards out of its stronghold Sirte on the Mediterranean coast which it has controlled since June. The group claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s bombing in Buairat El Hassun, 60 kilometres west of Sirte. The military said at least seven people were killed in the blast.
ISIL said the attack was carried out by two suicide bombers – a Sudanese fighter and another foreigner whose nationality was not given.
Twenty-five other members of forces loyal to the GNA were killed in fighting with ISIL in Abu Grein, a key crossroads farther west, the military said.
Libya was left with two rival administrations after a militia alliance took over Tripoli in mid-2014, setting up its own authority and forcing the elected parliament to flee to Tobruk in the country’s far east.
The Tripoli-based unity government, formed under a December power-sharing deal agreed by some members from both administrations, has announced the formation of a new military command to take charge of the battle against ISIL.
But armed forces loyal to the government based in the east are also preparing to battle ISIL.
Meanwhile, Nato foreign ministers were meeting in Brussels on Thursday to discuss how to supprt the GNA against the extremists.
“Nato has a clear mandate that we should stand ready to support the new government in Libya if so requested,” secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said before the meeting. “We are not addressing any potential combat operation.”
Libya remains highly sensitive for Nato following its 2011 air campaign that helped rebels topple Muammar Qaddafi but then saw the country descend into anarchy.
The Allies are divided over whether Nato should be training a new Libyan military, targeting arms smugglers or stopping flows of migrants across the Mediterranean as calmer summer weather approaches, something Italy and Spain support.
* Agence France-Presse
