A US military official says several teams of 50 Marines (Fast Teams) are being dispatched to the Libyan city of Benghazi, and Cairo, Egypt to secure the U.S. consulates & embassy after attacks Tuesday left four Americans dead including the U.S. ambassador.
The US is also looking to head off other attacks on more US facilities, anticipating a "ripple effect" from an anti-Islam film that is prompting the wave of assaults on US consular stations.
The US is also looking to head off other attacks on more US facilities, anticipating a "ripple effect" from an anti-Islam film that is prompting the wave of assaults on US consular stations.
The official said a Marine "fast team" is being sent from the U.S. Naval base in Rota, Spain. They are not yet on the ground. Other teams and assets are also being deployed to protect other official consular outposts in the area.
The move comes after President Obama ordered "all necessary resources" provided to Libya to support the security of U.S. personnel in the country.
In a statement, Obama also said he's directed his administration to "increase security at our diplomatic posts around the globe."
Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other American staff members were killed in the attacks Tuesday.
U.S. posts are on alert amid protests, so far in Libya and Egypt, over a film that ridiculed Islam's Prophet Muhammad.
The senior military official clarified Wednesday that despite some reports, no Marines were killed in the Tuesday attack. The military, the source said, has not been asked by the State Department to assist with any evacuations.
No comments:
Post a Comment