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Daesh enters Libya towards the oil wells (Le Drian)

(credit: RTL - JYLD archives in January 2015)
(credit: RTL - JYLD archives in January 2015)

(B2) The organization of the Islamic State (Daesh) has gained a foothold on the Libyan coast, around Sirte, the former stronghold of Gaddafi. But she's starting to make progress. towards the inside of Libya with the aim of gaining access to oil wells, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian highlighted on the French channel RTL on Monday: The situation is worrying in Libya. I said it for months »

From Sirte to the interior of the country

Daesh militiamen are in Sirte. They extend their territory over 250 linear kilometers of coastline. But they are beginning to penetrate inwards and have a temptation to access oil wells and oil reserves. It is absolutely necessary that intra-Libyan conflicts cease, otherwise the military winner will be Daesh”.

Slow awareness among Libyans

« Fortunately, this awareness is beginning to be made both on the side of Tripoli and on the side of Tobruk. And we can think that the discussions which are under way both under the authority of Martin Kobler, the United Nations special envoy, and in the meetings in Rome, which took place this weekend, will lead to a political solution " he added.

No airstrikes, a political solution

Airstrikes are not an option for Jean-Yves Le Drian. “There is no other solution (than) the political solution. We must reach a political solution between the different clans, the different factions which today oppose each other in Libya "(...) They themselves have the military means between them to stop the progression of Daech so they must unite politically ».

Comment: Initiating strikes seems rather delicate politically and militarily. The international legitimacy of these strikes would be narrow - without a UN Security Council resolution. The resolution voted on November 20 is more aimed at Daesh in Iraq and Syria. Militarily, in addition to having the necessary means, the effect could be more negative than positive, by displacing populations, therefore the elements of Daesh, by encouraging other vocations, and by provoking among the Libyan militias, in the end, a reaction more of solidarity than of hostility.

(NGV)

Listen to the audio file (source RTL) - Libya (from the 7th minute, after the reaction to the regional elections)

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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