French Special Forces in Libya: report
Le Monde said special forces and members of the DGSE external security service are in Libya for anti-ISIS ‘clandestine operations’
French Special Forces have been deployed in Libya to fight the ISIS group, France’s Le Monde reported Wednesday -- triggering an official probe into a possible leak of classified information.
Le Monde said special forces and members of the DGSE external security service were present in Libya for “clandestine operations” against ISIS militants, thought to number several thousand in the chaos-scarred country.
It also claimed that an air strike in November that killed the top ISIS leader in the country, Abu Nabil, was “initiated by Paris.”
French officials said it had launched a probe into the leak.
“The investigation should establish if details covered by defence secrecy rules were revealed in this article,” said a source close to Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.
“When secret operations are taking place, the goal is to ensure they are not revealed for the security of the men and the operations,” said the source.
A violation of defence secrecy carries a penalty of up to three years in prison and a 45,000-euro ($50,000) fine.
France and other Western countries have agreed that military action is needed to dislodge ISIS in Libya, which has exploited the chaos caused by the overthrow of dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011.
But it wants a national unity government in place to request the assistance before making a formal intervention.
Also Read
-
Libya army claims advances in Benghazi
Military forces loyal to Libya's eastern government pushed back Islamist fighters in several areas of Benghazi Middle East -
Libya’s NOC warns of more ISIS attacks on oil facilities
Suspected ISIS militants had staged their latest attack agianst Libya's Fida oil field last Thursday or Friday Business -
Italy agrees to let anti-ISIS drones depart from Sicily
The agreement covers only defensive missions and not offensive action, such as the attack on a suspected militant training camp in Sabratha, Libya Middle East -
U.S. says Libya strike probably prevented ISIS attack
The ISIS compound destroyed near the city of Sabratha was ‘very focused on training to conduct operations’ Middle East -
Libya could soon run out of life-saving medicines: U.N.
A U.N. official warned Libya faces severe shortages of life-saving medicine and about one million people will soon be in dire need of help Middle East -
Lack of quorum scuppers Libya confidence vote
Oil-rich Libya has had rival administrations since the summer of 2014 when the recognised government fled Tripoli after a militia alliance Middle East -
Pro-govt fighters make key gains in Libya’s Benghazi
Libya has had rival administrations since the summer of 2014 when the recognized government fled the capital Tripoli Middle East
