WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Obama’s comment came in response to a question whether military intervention in Libya is necessary to combat Daesh.
"With respect to Libya, I have been clear from the outset that we will go after ISIS [Daesh] wherever it appears the same way that we went after al-Qaeda wherever they appeared," Obama stated at Rancho Mirage in California on Tuesday.
Obama further noted a testament that the United States is already pursuing such a strategy is illustrated by the fact it "took out one of ISIS’ [Daesh’s] most prominent leaders in Libya."
The US president noted the United States will continue to take action if there is a clear operation and target in mind.
"And we are working with our other coalition partners to make sure that as we see opportunities to prevent ISIS from digging in Libya, we take them."
The United States and the European Union have so far ruled out a possibility of a ground operation against terrorists in Libya, noting the future Libyan unity government should bear the responsibility of stabilizing the country.
Libya has been in a state of turmoil since its longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011 by Western-backed Islamist extremists.
Daesh, which is outlawed in numerous countries including in Russia, seized a pocket of Libyan territory centered in Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte in November 2014.
