Arab League calls for support for Libya to fight Daesh

Libya’s internationally recognized government is urging fellow Arab countries to arm its military so it can face the expanding Islamic State affiliate in the country.

Following the meeting, the Arab League called in a statement for drafting a strategy to militarily support Libya against Daesh, which has recently seized control of the coastal city of Sirte.

“Arab countries need the help of the Great Powers, which must provide immediate assistance in this case”, said Abed Alsalam Ismael, an expert on Libyan politics, in an interview with euronews in Cairo.

“Terrorism, which is damaging Libya and threatens its territorial integrity and stability, can not be in any way considered a political trend but a crime against innocent people”, he said.

Libya has slid into chaos in the years since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising, and is now divided between an elected parliament and government in the far eastern town of Tobruk and an Islamist militia-backed government based in the capital, Tripoli.

Mohammed al-Dairi claimed that Libya does not have enough means to hold off an attack of the fighters, including those from the Islamic State.

Since then, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has pushed for a joint Arab military force to fight jihadists in the region. Arab League nations are slated to meet again on August 27 in Cairo.

The U.N.is concerned that if it allowed weapons into Libya, they could fall into the hands of multiple armed groups.

“What is surprising is that double-standard with which the worldwide community is dealing with the threats of Daesh”, Adel said, using the Arabic acronym for the IS group.

In a statement over the weekend, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry sharply criticized the worldwide coalition, saying that “despite our constant urging, it has refused to be more emphatic, decisive and swift in its response to Daesh”.

Al Tunaiji underscored that the UAE backs the efforts led by the global body to implement the worldwide resolutions.

Meanwhile, Tunisia said it would reopen its airspace to flights to and from Libya as safety standards in its neighbour’s airports had improved.