Daesh doubles number of fighters in Libya: US general

By Kasim Ileri

WASHINGTON

Daesh has doubled its number of fighters in Libya in the past several months, the top U.S. general in Africa said Thursday.

“The U.S. intelligence community has said it's around 4,000 to 6,000 thousand. It is probably about doubled in the last 12 to 18 months based on what their assessments were last year,” Army Gen. David Rodriguez told reporterssi.

A previous estimate by the U.S. military was approximately 1,000 to 3,000 fighters. Rodriguez said the growing number of fighters stems from not only a flow of foreign fighters within or out of Africa but also small militia groups in Libya that are pledging allegiance to the terrorist group.

He suggested the Pentagon would carry out strikes in Libya but underscored that anything beyond that is “a decision for the national command authority and leadership.”

The rise of Daesh in Libya is a significant challenge to the fragile interim unity government there that is grappling with ongoing fighting among tribal militias, according to Rodriguez.

He also warned that Daesh would worsen the refugee influx in Tunisia and Europe.

“I think the biggest and worst threat they are, you know, providing to the neighbors is really to Tunisia first. That's the biggest one. Then followed up the European threats,” he said.

By Kasim Ileri

WASHINGTON

Daesh has doubled its number of fighters in Libya in the past several months, the top U.S. general in Africa said Thursday.

He suggested the Pentagon would carry out strikes in Libya but underscored that anything beyond that is “a decision for the national command authority and leadership.”

The rise of Daesh in Libya is a significant challenge to the fragile interim unity government there that is grappling with ongoing fighting among tribal militias, according to Rodriguez.

He also warned that Daesh would worsen the refugee influx in Tunisia and Europe.

“I think the biggest and worst threat they are, you know, providing to the neighbors is really to Tunisia first. That's the biggest one. Then followed up the European threats,” he said.