WASHINGTON — The top US commander for Africa said the number of Islamic State group militants in Libya has doubled in the last year or so to about 6,000.
Army Gen. David Rodriguez heads US Africa Command. Rodriquez said local militias in Libya have had some success in trying to stop the Islamic State from growing in Benghazi and are battling the group in Sabratha. But he said decisions to provide more military assistance will wait for a national government.
The latest numbers for IS in Libya make it the largest Islamic State branch of eight that the militant group operates outside Iraq and Syria, according to US defense officials. The officials were not authorized to provide details of the group and spoke only on condition of anonymity.
The US has conducted two airstrikes in Libya in recent months targeting Islamic State fighters and leaders, but Rodriguez said that those are limited to militants that pose an “imminent” threat to US interests.