Russia: US must adhere to international law in bombing Libya’s ISIS

The United States’ latest airstrikes against the outlawed Daesh jihadist group in Libya should strictly adhere to international law, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday, reiterating the call for joint anti-terrorist efforts.

“Russia has always advocated the need for decisive action to destroy Daesh and other terrorist groups, wherever they may be, in strict compliance with international law. We believe it is fundamentally important to establish solid coordination among all states engaged in the fight against terrorism,” the ministry said.

The United States announced Monday that it had carried out air strikes on positions of so-called Islamic State (IS) in Libya, following a request by the UN-backed government there.

The strikes targeted positions in the port city of Sirte, an IS stronghold.

Libyan PM Fayez Al-Serraj, in a televised address, said the strikes caused “heavy losses”.

The air strikes are the first such US military intervention co-ordinated with the Libyan unity government.