Rome- Libyan Prime Minister, Fayez Serraj warned on Wednesday that Islamic State terrorists may be hiding among Mediterranean boat migrants.
Italy had said last week that it would investigate links between migrant smuggling and Islamist groups.
It is unclear whether Islamic State either makes money off the people smuggling business or uses it as a covert form of transport.
“The Islamic State is a very dangerous organisation.
“It will use every means to send its militants to Italy and Europe.
“I would not at all be surprised to discover that its men are hiding on boats headed towards your shores. We have to tackle this problem together,” Serraj said.
The Libyan leader called on the international community to help stabilise migrants’ countries of origin and said he wanted to “find a way” to repatriate those who arrive in Libya en route to Europe.
Serraj, whose UN-backed government asked last week for U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State strongholds in the country, said he expected military success soon.
The French Foreign Ministry said that governments of France, Germany, Spain, the U.S., Italy and Britain underscored concerns about rising tensions around the Zueitina oil terminal, which lies on the northern Libyan coast.
The ministry said that the Western governments expressed their support for Serraj’s national accord government and called for all energy installations to be put back under its control.
“The national accord government should work with the National Oil Corporation to relaunch petroleum production in order to rebuild the Libyan economy,” it said.
Fighting between rival militias since the fall of former dictator Moamer Gaddafi in 2011 has thrown Libya into political and military chaos.
There is rising concern among Western governments that the country is becoming a hotspot for jihadists and potential terrorists.
Serraj’s statements reflected a continued confidence in his troops, as he said victory against the radical group would take “probably a few weeks, rather than months.”
He also insisted there was no need for greater international help.
“Our men can do it on their own, once they get air support,” Serraj said, specifying that he had asked for “very surgical and limited in time” U.S. raids.
“We don’t need foreign troops on Libyan soil,” he added, reiterating comments he had made previously.
Last month, diplomatic relations between Libya and France became strained after Paris said that three of its soldiers had been killed in a helicopter crash while conducting a mission.