Obama directs team to counter Daesh in Libya

By Esra Kaymak Avci

WASHINGTON

President Barack Obama on Thursday directed his national security team to focus efforts against Daesh that has expanded into Libya and other countries, according to the White House.

"The president directed his national security team to continue efforts to strengthen governance and support ongoing counterterrorism efforts in Libya and other countries where ISIL has sought to establish a presence," according to a White House statement.

Earlier Thursday, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Daesh is establishing training sites in Libya and welcoming foreign fighters as the group had previously done in Iraq and Syria.

"And we don't want to be on a glide slope to a situation like Syria and Iraq," Carter said.

A Pentagon spokesman said the U.S. has sent a small team to Libya to try to better assess the situation there.

Daesh militants have taken advantage of the political chaos in the country after longtime leader Moammar Qaddafi was killed in 2011.

Daesh has spread to Libya as it faces increasing military strikes from a U.S.-led coalition in Iraq and Syria.