Pentagon Chief Says He Does Not Support Military Solution In Libya

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th April, 2019) US Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan told reporters on Friday that Libya does not need a military solution in reference to the Libyan National Army's (LNA) assault in Tripoli.

Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar has ordered an offensive to retake Tripoli from Libya's internationally-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA)-backed forces.

"What I would say is the military solution is not what Libya needs," Shanahan said.

The LNA has already recaptured a number of settlements on its way to the capital, including the Tripoli International Airport. The forces loyal to the GNA announced a counteroffensive on Sunday, dubbed Volcano of Rage, to repel the LNA.

Shanahan said he does support Haftar in terms of his role in counterterrorism, but he must also provide support on building democratic stability in the region.

Since the overthrow and killing of Libya's long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the country has been divided between two governments, with the eastern part controlled by the LNA, and the western part governed by the UN-backed GNA.

Libya further descended into violent chaos after Gaddafi's government was ousted in 2011 as a result of the US-backed military intervention. According to the Fund for Peace's 2019 Fragile States Index, Libya is currently considered the 28th most unstable country in the world, marking a precipitous and steep decline from the 111th slot it occupied under Gaddafi, when it was among the top three most stable countries on the continent of Africa.