WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — On February 10, US Coordinator of the Coalition against the Daesh Brett McGurk told the US House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee the United States was concerned that Daesh in Libya could team up with Boko Haram in Nigeria to spread extremism across Africa.
"No one’s talking about a second intervention in Libya," Toner stated.
Toner refused to acknowledge that US policy supporting the toppling of Libya’s longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi had been a mistake.
But Toner did admit that more than four years of anarchy since Gaddafi’s violent death had allowed Daesh in the Libya.
"Due to lack of a unified government in Libya, it has led to some of these ungoverned spaces where groups like ISIS [Daesh] can establish a foothold," Toner noted.
US to Conduct More Anti-Daesh Airstrikes in Libya as Opportunities Arise
The United States will continue conducting airstrikes in Libya when it sees opportunities to take out Daesh leaders and bomb camps, Toner also said.
“We [the United States] have been very clear that as we have opportunities we are going to carry out airstrikes against those ISIL [Daesh] elements that are operating in Libya,” Toner stated.
US Uncertain About Date for Cessation of Hostilities in Syria
The United States lacks certainty about a specific date it wants to see cessation of hostilities take effect in Syria, Mark Toner stated.
“I don’t have a certain date that we are saying now that we want a cessation of hostilities by ‘this’ date,” Toner stated. “Once this task force convenes, it will work as quickly as possible to reach… end of hostilities on the ground [in Syria].”
