Libya War News Updates -- May 20, 2016

Dan Lamonthe, Washington Post: Who in Libya will the U.S. send weapons to? It’s complicated, says a top general.

BRUSSELS — The top U.S. general overseeing American military operations in Africa said Tuesday that while Washington is considering sending weapons to Libya to fight the Islamic State, doing so will require taking cues from a fledgling unity government that is still struggling to establish support at home.

Army Gen. David M. Rodriguez, the chief of U.S. Africa Command, told a handful of reporters here that Libya’s internal politics still make it difficult to determine which armed groups are aligning themselves with the Government of National Accord, an interim group that has backing from the United Nations. The militias would be called on to play a key role in stopping the spread of the Islamic State, which took hold in Libya in November 2014.

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WNU Editor: The above video is combat footage from the Libyan air force (so they say).

Libya War News Updates -- May 20, 2016

Libyan forces advance on ISIL stringhold of Sirte -- Euronews
Libya forces say pushing back Islamic State fighters -- Reuters
Daesh, Libyan army clash near Sirte, 28 killed -- Al Bawaba
Islamic State claims suicide bombings against Libyan brigades -- Reuters
Libya unity government pleads for arms to fight IS -- AFP
Libya: ISIS Executed Dozens in Newest Stronghold -- Human Rights Watch
New Report Details The Horrors Of Life Under ISIS In Sirte, Libya -- NPR
ISIS ‘Crucifixions,’ Beheadings And Executions Carried Out In Libya Stronghold Of Sirte, New Report Reveals -- IBTimes
ISIS has executed almost 50 in Libya, Human Rights Watch says -- CNN
U.S. will help Libyans beat back Islamic State fighters -- PBS
Friend or Foe? Doubts Plague US Military in Libya Training -- VOA
Inside Europe: The risky strategy of sending weapons to Libya -- DW
The US Wants to Send More Guns to Libya. No, Seriously. -- Bryan Shatz, Bryan Jones
Will IS trigger reconciliation in Libya? -- Rashid Khashana, Al-Monitor
Battle of the banknotes as rival currencies are set to be issued in Libya -- The Guardian
A quick guide to Libya's main players -- European Council on Foreign Relations