Military action against Islamic State
in
Libya will be on the agenda when 45
Defence Ministers meet at NATO
headquarters in Brussels later.
Officially, Britain says it is still waiting
for an invitation from the newly
formed
Libyan administration before
considering military help to the
country.
Privately, plans are being drawn up in
Rome, Washington, London and
elsewhere for possible airstrikes
against
IS in the country.
The British military might also
contribute towards a 6,000 strong
training mission for the Libyan Army.
The meeting is being chaired by US
Defence Secretary Ash Carter and will
also discuss what further action can
be
taken in Iraq and Syria, reports Sky
News.
The US has not ruled out Saudi
Arabian
ground troops playing a role in Syria
but
Secretary Carter insists it is just one
option on the table.
Pressure will be put on the Gulf States
to
do more in the region as Washington,
London and Paris seek to turn up the
pressure on the terrorist group.
It will be the first time the defence
ministers have formally met since the
air
campaign began in September 2014.
Speaking ahead of the meeting the UK
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon
said:
“We plan to hit Da’esh (Islamic State)
harder, reducing territory, targeting
their infrastructure and freeing more
people from their brutal regime.
“In order to achieve that, regional
allies
must make further commitments as
we
look to intensify military activity
across
Iraq and Syria.”

Source: www.morelight.ml/2016/02/nato-pledges-to-hit-islamic-state.html?m=1