Abducted Serbian embassy staff ‘die in Libya airstrike’
“Destruction of the camp and Chouchane’s removal will eliminate an experienced facilitator and is expected to have an immediate impact on ISIL’s ability to facilitate its activities in Libya, including recruiting new ISIL members, establishing bases in Libya, and potentially planning external attacks on USA interests in the region”, the Pentagon said, using an acronym for Islamic State, also known as ISIS or Daesh.
Speaking on Saturday, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic confirmed that Sladjana Stankovic and Jovica Stepic, who were kidnapped in November 2015, were among the victims. Both were kidnapped in November after their diplomatic convoy was attack.
“We can not confirm with certainty, but we got the photos that clearly indicate that information is probably correct”, Dacic said.
However, Dacic said that Serbian security services had been informed that a criminal group linked to Isis had demanded ransom for the hostages who were being held at the site.
Dacic said Serbia was not notified about the U.S. operation and announced that the country will ask for an explanation from the USA and Libyan authorities concerning the information on locations and targets they had prior to the airstrikes.
“This action is a clear demonstration of the secretary’s continued commitment to go after ISIL’s metastases wherever they emerge”, Cook said, adding that the strike was fully consistent with the broader USA campaign plan to counter ISIL and prevent new safe havens.
The US airstrike targeted a terrorist training camp in the northwestern Libyan town of Sabratha on Friday.
But he said the demands had been “impossible” to meet by either the families or the government.
Dozens were believed killed when American F-15E fighter bombers struck an Islamic State training camp Friday located in a coastal city west of Tripoli. “I think we would have been able to pull out the abducted personnel if they weren’t killed in the bombing”, he said.
The Special Deterrent Forces are loyal to the militia-backed government that now controls Tripoli.
Bodies of Stankovic and Stepic will be transported to Serbia on Monday. Serbian ambassador Oliver Potezica escaped unharmed.
“The attack happened when one of the embassy cars was hit from behind”.
Libya has slid further into chaos since its former leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown five years ago, with two rival governments operating, backed by rival factions of former rebel brigades.
Libya’s internationally recognized government has been forced out of the capital, Tripoli, and now operates out of the eastern cities of Tobruk and Bayda. Serbia has ties with both of Libya’s governments, and is also a member of the global coalition against IS.