LONDON/TRIPOLI — Ansar Al-Shariah, the militia suspected of involvement in last Tuesday's deadly assault on the US Consulate in Benghazi, has warned Libya would become “an inferno for US troops” if the American military intervened in response to the attacks. The group also warned that US citizens in Libya would become legitimate targets if Washington sent any forces to target Islamist groups. Responding to the threat, Prime Minister-elect Mustafa Abushagur told the Libya Herald that the government will do “whatever it takes” to prevent Ansar Al-Shariah from carrying out the threat. “Clearly we are not allowing them to take control of the country and to threaten other people living in Libya”, he said. “This is not acceptable. We are going to use whatever it takes to stop them taking this action.” The threats were made Tuesday by a leading member of Ansar Al-Shariah, Yousef Jehani, in an interview with the Reuters news agency. He said that whilst Ansar Al-Shariah wished to avoid further conflict, Libyans were prepared to wage a holy war to defend the country from foreign aggression. “If one US soldier arrives, not for the purpose of defending the embassy, but to repeat what happened in Iraq or Afghanistan be sure that all battalions in Libya and all Libyans will put aside all their differences and rally behind one goal of hitting America and Americans,” Jehani said. “Libyans will wage jihad. The US will be hit much harder than in Afghanistan and even US nationals would be targeted because the American presence would be considered an invasion”. Washington has given no indication that it is preparing to intervene militarily in Libya, but US military activity has been stepped-up in and around Libya in response to last Tuesday's assault in Benghazi, which left the US ambassador and three other Americans dead. US drones have been conducting reconnaissance missions over Benghazi, and a counter-terrorist unit has also been sent to Libya. Two American warships, the USS Laboon and the USS McFaul, have also been deployed off the Libyan coast. The saber-rattling from Ansar Al-Shariah, which has denied it was responsible for the US Consulate attack, has renewed pressure on the government to take action against the group. Last week, a senior adviser to Abushagur said that the government was committed to disbanding Ansar Al-Shariah, and was prepared to use force if necessary. “We are negotiating to dismantle it,” the adviser said. “We don't want bloodshed but if they do not agree we will have to use force. Getting a grip on the security situation in Libya undoubtedly represents one of the greatest challenges confronting the incoming government. Over the course of the year, militants have staged attacks on a large number of targets, both foreign and domestic. — Libya Herald
