Libya's Tripoli-based army calls for western intervention in the fight against IS

The army of Libya’s Tripoli-based government has called for logistical support to fight Islamic State militia, who have taken advantage of the chaos in the country to occupy the city of Sirte.

According to the army, western weapons will make a vital difference in the battle against their better-armed enemy.

“We have the ability, as humans but we don’t have all the resources that we aim to secure. We hope that the world will open its doors for us to help secure a number of things that we can’t provide ourselves,” said Mohamed Alzoqol, the army’s operations director.

However, western governments are wary of large-scale military intervention but fear inaction may allow Islamic State to take deeper root.

Oil-rich Libya has had two rival administrations since mid-2014 when the recognised government was forced from Tripoli after a militia alliance including Islamists overran the capital.