U.S. officials: Egypt, United Arab Emirates launched airstrikes in Libya

last updated 8 January 2015

American officials have stated that Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have launched airstrikes in Libya twice in the past week.

The allies teamed up to launch the strikes against "Islamist-allied militias battling for control of Tripoli," according to four senior American officials interviewed by The New York Times. The officials report that Egypt and the UAE did not tell Washington officials about their plans. Meanwhile, Egyptian officials reportedly denied the airstrike operation during conversations with American diplomats.

"We don't see this as constructive at all," one of the senior American officials told the Times. The U.S. officials are worried the airstrikes "could further inflame the Libyan conflict at a time when the United Nations and Western powers are seeking a peaceful resolution." The officials suspect that the UAE provided warplanes to bomb Tripoli and that the strikes were launched from a base in Egypt.