Libya Crisis: US Caught Off-Guard By Air Strikes

The US was "caught off guard" by air strikes against Islamist militia
in Libya, a senior official has told the BBC.

The attacks on militia positions around Tripoli airport were
reportedly carried out by the United Arab Emirates from bases in
Egypt.

Egypt has denied any involvement and the UAE has not commented.

A militia alliance recently captured the capital's international
airport after a battle lasting nearly a month.

The official told the BBC that the US had not been consulted about the
air strikes and that it was concerned that US weapons may have been
used, violating agreements under which they were sold.

The unidentified war planes attacked twice in the past week during a
battle for Tripoli's airport between Islamist and nationalist
militias.

A report in The New York Times on Monday said the UAE had provided the
military aircraft, aerial refuelling planes and crews while Egypt gave
access to its air bases.

On Monday, the US, France, Germany, Italy and the UK issued a joint
statement denouncing "outside interference" in Libya which it said
"exacerbates current divisions and undermines Libya's democratic
transition".

The BBC's Barbara Plett Usher in Washington says the air strikes have
exposed another battleground in a regional struggle for power between
Arab autocrats and Islamist movements.

Qatar has provided weapons and money to Islamist forces in Libya and
elsewhere, she says, while Egypt and the UAE along with Saudi Arabia
are trying to roll back Islamist advances.

Violence in Libya has surged recently between the rival groups who
overthrew Muammar Gaddafi in the 2011 uprising.

Libya's police and army remain weak in comparison with the militias.

Over the weekend, Islamist-affiliated forces from Misrata and other
cities took over Tripoli airport from the Zintan militia, which has
held it for three years.
The airport, Libya's largest, has been closed for more than a month
because of the fighting.

Hundreds of people have died since clashes broke out in Tripoli in July.

In another development on Monday, Libya's previous Islamist-dominated
parliament reconvened and voted to disband the country's interim
government.

Correspondents say it leaves Libya with two rival parliaments, each
backed by armed factions.

Elections in June saw the old General National Congress, where
Islamists had a strong voice, replaced by the House of
Representatives, dominated by liberals and federalists.

The GNC, which reconvened in Tripoli on Monday, has refused to
acknowledge the legitimacy of its successor assembly, which is based
in Tobruk.

The House of Representatives says the groups now in control of Tripoli
airport are "terrorist organisations".

But the Misrata-led brigade, now in control of Tripoli airport, has
called on the GNC to resume work.

Libya's government has repeatedly called for the militia groups to
disband and join the national army. But so far, few have shown a
willingness to disarm.