The U.S. State Department on Tuesday acknowledged for the first time it was aware of air strikes in Libya by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates in recent days.
Until now Washington would not talk about the involvement of Egypt and the UAE in the air strikes against militia in the capital Tripoli.
“We understand there were air strikes undertaken in recent days by the UAE and Egypt” in Libya, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told a daily briefing with reporters.
Meanwhile, Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby, speaking to reporters, declined to give details of why the Obama administration believed those two countries conducted the mysterious strikes.
Three years after rebels toppled longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi, Libya is sinking deeper into chaos as armed factions battle in various cities and two rival legislatures compete for power.
