New York, March 31: The Central Intelligence Agency has reportedly inserted operatives into Libya to gather intelligence for air strikes and make contact with rebels fighting Muammar Gaddafi.
White House spokesman Jay Carney declined to confirm or deny the report, citing “common practice” not to comment on intelligence matters, the New York Times said.
The newspaper, citing unidentified US officials, said the CIA operatives include American intelligence officers who worked at the agency’s station in Tripoli and other recent arrivals.
Dozens of British special forces and MI6 officers also were working in Libya, current and former British officials told the newspaper.
ABC News reported that President Barack Obama has signed a presidential order, or “finding”, authorising covert CIA operations to “aid the effort” in Libya.
Mr Obama has said he would not commit US ground troops to the Libyan campaign, but has not ruled out supplying arms to the rebels.
“I will reiterate what the president said yesterday – no decision has been made about providing arms to the opposition or to any group in Libya. We’re not ruling it out or ruling it in,” said Mr Carney.
“We’re assessing and reviewing options for all types of assistance that we could provide to the Libyan people, and have consulted directly with the opposition and our international partners about these matters.”
——–Agencies