Lavrov: Russia has no plans to strike ISIS in Libya

Russia has no plans to strike positions of the ISIS terror organization (ISIS, banned in Russia – editor’s note) in Libya, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a news conference with his Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni on Dec 11.

“The Libyan government has not invited Russia. Moreover, there is no Libyan government at all,” the minister noted. He stressed that Russia welcomes effort of the international community to render assistance in overcoming the current split in Libya and form a united government.

“When a legitimate Libyan government recognized by the UN is fully formed it will decide how to settle problems Libya has been facing after it disintegrated as a result of NATO bomb attacks,” Lavrov said.

The Russian minister noted that the ISIS was not the only problem of Libya. “The problems include arms trafficking, militants who were armed and supported in order to oust Muammar Gaddafi. They creeped far behind the country, and they are doing black deeds in Africa and neighboring countries. European countries have to fight them as they were arming them to oust Gaddafi.”