"We did the right thing preventing what could have been a massacre, a bloodbath in Libya, and we did so as part of an international coalition, and under UN mandate, but I think that all of us collectively were not sufficiently attentive to what had to happen the day after, and the day after, and the day after that in order to ensure that there were strong structures in place to assure basic security and peace inside of Libya," Obama said.
In 2011, a multinational coalition comprising the United States, France and Britain toppled Gaddafi, who was in power for more than 40 years. Gaddafi's overthrow was followed by turmoil across Libya, with the current government fighting numerous militias.
On Monday, the Unite States has started a new airstrike campaign in Libya aimed at fighting Daesh militants. Obama has approved the campaign, launched at the invitation of the Libyan Government of National Accord.
Libya has been in a state of turmoil since Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011. The instability caused numerous militant groups to rise to power around the country, particularly Daesh, which has been carrying out attacks on Libya’s oil infrastructure.
