US Reports of Supposed IS Training Camps in Libya

General David M. Rodriguez (R), Commander, United States Africa Command (AFRICOM). Photo: EPA

The Head of the US Africa Command General David Rodriguez reported on Wednesday that Islamic State (IS) has set up training camps in eastern Libya.

Rodriguez said that the US was monitoring the camps, which were at a very early stage of development, Al Jazeera and the BBC report.

The US General suggested that there might be “a couple of hundred” fighters undergoing training at the camps, but further details were lacking at this stage.

Rodriguez assured that the US is to continue monitoring the developments in the camps before taking any action, which currently did not necessitate the deployment of US troops in Libya.

This comes as the US Secretary of State John Kerry announced on Wednesday that the momentum of IS has been halted by the air strikes.

Speaking at a meeting of the international coalition against IS, held at the headquarters of NATO in Brussels, Kerry said that the military actions of the US-led international coalition will continue until IS is defeated.

US President Barack Obama has similarly called for the annihilation of IS.

Western countries are increasingly worried of the political instability that has gripped Libya since the ousting from power of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and the ensuing revolution.

Several tribes, militias and political factions, including Islamist groups in the east, are fighting for power.

The elected government has lost control of Libya's three main cities, with the internationally recognised parliament currently sitting in the coastal city of Tobruk.

IS leader Abu Bakr-al Baghdadi has recently spoken of the recruitment of followers from Libya.

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