ISIS is expanding into Libya, will the U.S. strike? LA Times.

A bombed out warehouse in Libya. LA Times/AFP/Getty

ISIS has new training bases in the remote regions of Libya, causing concern for U.S. officials. LA Times. Hundreds of fighters are training in camps in eastern Libya and some fighters may have been spotted near Tripoli as well. Although there are no current plans to strike these camps, officials are starting to wonder what, if anything, should be done. Libya has been in chaos since the 2011 revolution, where the United States conducted airstrikes in support of rebels. After the overthrow of Gaddafi, the United States did nothing as the country fell into sectarian violence. It has not been determined if these camps are made up of fighters from Libya, or if they are from Iraq and Syria. ISIS allies also have control of the city of Derna. Officials are wary of new airstrikes due to the complicated situation involving many factions on the ground and fears of getting involved in yet another middle east conflict. 

My Comment:

Once again, the law of unintended consequences strikes again. Some people did speak out back in 2011 that overthrowing Gaddafi would turn Libya into a haven for terrorists and other extremists and throw the country into sectarian violence. All that has happened and more, and since the Benghazi attack, the United States involvement in the region has been limited. That has limited our options. These ISIS fighters are, of course, a threat. Not only could they eventually take more territory, they can provide fighters for the Iraq and Syrian conflict and perhaps strike at targets in Europe as well. 

As for ISIS, it is very disturbing that they have been able to spread so successfully. Iraq and Syria are the main countries that they have control in, but if they are taking and holding territory in Libya as well that means they aren't just a regional threat. They are a global one, and more should be done to fight them. I wouldn't have a problem with the air force or navy bombing these camps to oblivion, but I doubt there is any political will for any involvement in Libya. We are partially responsible for the situation there, but nobody, not in the United States or Europe, is willing to commit the resources necessary to save the country, let alone fight ISIS. I'm guessing that nothing will be done about ISIS in Libya until they either take over the country or conduct some kind of major terror attack.