Paris: French President Francois Hollande is ruling out unilateral military intervention in Libya but says that French forces will strike Islamic extremists leaving the country to bring arms to Africa's Sahel region.
Hollande urged the United Nations to take action to stem growing violence in the country.
Speaking today on France-Inter radio, Hollande said the French forces will strike the fighters "every time they will leave these places where they are hiding" in southern Libya.
For that purpose, France is setting up a military base in northern Niger, only 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the lawless Libyan border region.
France has deployed some 3,000 troops, 200 armored vehicles and six fighter jets in its former colonies of Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad and Mali to fight Islamic extremists.
Hollande urged the United Nations to take action to stem growing violence in the country.
Speaking today on France-Inter radio, Hollande said the French forces will strike the fighters "every time they will leave these places where they are hiding" in southern Libya.
France has deployed some 3,000 troops, 200 armored vehicles and six fighter jets in its former colonies of Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad and Mali to fight Islamic extremists.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Cop Injured In Attack In Central Paris, Says French Minister Tens Of Thousands To Welcome Kylian Mbappe To Real Madrid France's Leading Goalscorer Olivier Giroud Ends International Career Barack Obama Wants Joe Biden To Pull Out Of US Presidential Race: Report World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage Shooter Had Trump's Face Right In Middle Of Crosshairs, Shows New Video Ice-Cream Shop Owner Hospitalised After Being Shot At In Pune: Cops PM Modi Meets Party Staffers At BJP Headquarters NMC Approves 50 MBBS Seats For New Medical College In Odisha Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.