US Looks to Dramatically Escalate Involvement in Libya
(ANTIWAR.COM) US officials familiar with the situation say that the Trump Administration is likely to announce a dramatic “ramping up” of US involvement in Libya, appointing a new US ambassador, and setting up a permanent US military presence in the nation.
While the military operation appears primarily aimed at supporting
the “unity government” in Tripoli, officials suggest it might also see
some US troops deployed to war-torn Benghazi, currently under the
control of a rival faction, with an eye toward eventually uniting the
country under unity government rule.
President Obama decided to back the unity government during the Sirte
offensive, sending US troops to fight ISIS there with the expectation
that the unity government’s victory would give them a massive advantage
over the rival governments. This has not proven the case, however, with
East Libya mostly dominated by the Tobruk parliament and the LNA, and
the unity government struggling with the Tripoli parliament over the
capital.
