France engages discreet military operation in Libya: report
Xinhua, February 25, 2016 Adjust font size:
French special forces were conducting discreet action against the Islamic State (IS) in Libya in coordination with the United States and Britain, a local daily reported on Wednesday.
In a report posted on its website, Le Monde said French President Francois Hollande gave the green light to "an unofficial military action" by both an elite armed forces unit to halt the progress of insurgents in the North African state.
It added specialist bloggers had reported sightings of French special forces in eastern Libya since mid-February.
"The last thing to do would be to intervene in Libya. We must avoid any overt military engagement, but act discreetly," the daily quoted a senior French military official as saying.
A press document issued by the French presidency in December 2015 unveiled that French jet fighters had conducted two intelligence flights over the Libyan towns of Sirte and Tobruk controlled by Islamist fighters.
Other reconnaissances flights have been planned over the struggling country, according to the document. Endit