Libya Calls for Airstrikes to Save Country from Islamic State

As pressing as the talks themselves is the question of how to combat the surge of Islamic State militants, who are making more ground in Sirte, a coastal town situated in the middle of Tripoli and Tobruk in the region. ISIL forces have moved into new neighborhoods, clashing with local groups and armed tribes.

The Libyan government, forced to operate from Tobruk, a small city in the east, near the border with Egypt, after Islamic State militants captured Tripoli last year, is now calling on Arab states to conduct airstrikes against Islamic State militants.

The government — the only administration internationally recognized by the UN, says it is unable to fight the terrorists because of a ban on the supply of weapons to the Libyan army.

Meanwhile, western governments have issued a joint statement condemning the "ongoing barbaric acts by ISIL-affiliated terrorists in Sirte."

A joint statement from France, German, Italy, Spain, the UK and the US said:

"We are deeply concerned about reports that these fighters have shelled densely populated parts of the city and committed indiscriminate acts of violence to terrorise the Libyan population."

It is now the target site for Islamic State terrorists — who are also in control of large areas of Iraq and Syria.

Many of the arms used by rebel groups to overthrow Gaddafi are now said to be in the hands of ISIL militias since the country "descended into chaos" in 2011.

Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Director, Philip Luther says:

"The international community has stood and watched as Libya has descended into chaos since the 2011 NATO military campaign ended, effectively allowing militias and armed groups to run amok."

Middle East expert and author, Ramzy Baroud, writing on a website called OnIslam.net, highlights the link between the European refugee crisis and the NATO intervention in Libya.

"The relationship between war and the rising challenge of refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers cannot be overstated.

"It is both ironic and sad that the many thousands of war refugees are seeking shelter in the same European and NATO countries that either directly (as in Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan) or indirectly (as in Syria) contributed to the destruction and destabilization of their countries."

Meanwhile, the joint statement from western governments, condemning the attacks by Islamic State in Sirte, calls for all parties to join a 'Unity government' so the international community, "can provide security against violent extremist groups seeking to destabilize the country." It also reiterates:

"…there is no military solution to the political conflict in Libya and [the western governments] remain concerned that the economic and humanitarian situation is worsening every day." 

And almost every day another story emerges, detailing the reality of forced migration from conflict ridden countries. At least 40 people, who had been smuggled into the hold of an overcrowded boat that had set sail from Libya, died on Saturday, last week.

320 refugees were rescued by the Italian navy, and when rescuers boarded the boat, bodies were "lying in water, fuel, human excrement" — Commander Massimo Tosi told reporters.

Tosi said the survivors "were crying for their husbands and their children who died in the crossing."

Ninety percent of boats smuggling people to Europe set sail from Libya. Elsewhere, Turkish authorities have reported that 2,791 refugees have been caught in the Aegean Sea in the past five days, the majority — Syrians.

The Arab League is to hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the demand from Libya's government for airstrikes to combat the escalating threat and violence from ISIL.