Libya Military Intervention Possible Only After Parliament Approval

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called for a "balanced and long-term" solution to the instability in Libya, as UN-backed efforts to form a unity government were "in full swing."

ROME (Sputnik) – A military intervention in Libya is only possible after all needed hurdles, including Libyan parliamentary approval, are cleared, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said Saturday.

The Corriere della Sera daily cited Renzi’s secret February 10 decree on Thursday as saying 50 Italian special forces troops were ready to join US, UK and French counterparts to fight Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) jihadist group fighters in Libya.

"Mass media are attempting to present scenarios of an Italian war in Libya, which do not correspond to reality," Renzi said as quoted by the Ansa news service.

The Italian prime minister called for a "balanced and long-term" solution to the instability in the North African republic as UN-backed efforts to form a unity government were "in full swing."

"Only then will we be able to assess, based on the request of the legitimate government, the level of Italian participation. In any case, this will require the necessary parliamentary and organizational procedures," he underscored.

The 50 anti-Daesh special forces would reportedly be under the purview of Italy’s External Intelligence and Security Agency.