Donald Trump on Tuesday said that he supports U.S. airstrikes in Libya in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
The Republican presidential nominee told Fox Business host Stuart Varney that the U.S. has “no choice but to bomb” ISIS forces in Libya, adding that he would do whatever it takes to defeat the terrorist group if elected president.
{mosads}”We have no choice but to bomb them. They have taken over Libya. That was another one of Hillary Clinton’s duties — they have taken over Libya. No good. We have to bomb them,” he said, referring to the Democratic presidential nominee and former secretary of State.
“I would do what you have to do to get rid of ISIS,” he said. “It’s a horrific problem. … We should have never been there in the first place. I was opposed to going into Iraq.
“We have unleashed a monster in the Middle East. And, yes, I would bomb them — you have to do what you have to do to get rid of them,” Trump added.
The Pentagon on Monday launched airstrikes on the coastal city of Sirte, Libya, after a request for assistance from the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA).
“GNA-aligned forces have had success in recapturing territory from ISIL thus far around Sirte, and additional U.S. strikes will continue to target ISIL in Sirte in order to enable the GNA to make a decisive, strategic advance,” said Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook on Monday, using the administration’s preferred acronym for the terrorist organization.