Libyan premier rejects foreign military intervention
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Libya’s UN-backed Prime Minister-designate, Fayez al-Sarraj, speaks during a press conference in Tripoli. ©AFP
The Libyan prime minister has dismissed the possibility of an international military intervention purportedly aimed at boosting the anti-Daesh fight in the conflict-plagued country.
“It’s true that we need help from the international community in our fight against terrorism and it’s true that this is something we have already received,” Fayez al-Sarraj said in an interview with French weekly newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche published on Sunday.
“But we are not talking about international intervention,” Sarraj said, noting that foreign boots on Libyan soil could offend national pride and runs “contrary to our principles.”
“Rather we need satellite images, intelligence, technical help... not bombardments,” he pointed out.
Sarraj further noted that “total victory over Daesh in Sirte is close.”
“(We hope) that this war against terrorism will be able to unite Libya. But it will be long. And the international community knows that,” he said.
On Friday, Sarraj had said he was confident that forces loyal to Libya’s UN-backed unity government, known as Government of National Accord (GNA), would liberate the coastal city of Sirte, the main stronghold of Daesh terrorists in Libya.
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