The Pentagon acknowledged Wednesday that a “small number” of U.S. forces are going in and out of Libya in support of an expanded air war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
“As with any military operation supporting another force, coordination and synchronization of effort is essential. To that end, a small number of U.S. forces have gone in and out of Libya to exchange information with these local forces in established joint operations centers, and they will continue to do so as we strengthen the fight against [ISIS] and other terrorist organizations,” said Deputy Defense press secretary Gordon Trowbridge.
Those forces are based in joint operations rooms, away from the forward line, to facilitate coordination among Libyan forces fighting ISIS, he said.
The Pentagon announced on Aug. 1 that it had expanded its air war against ISIS into Libya, where its fighters have established a foothold in Sirte.
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