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Russian general says Libya turned into base for IS terrorists after overthrow of Gaddafi

According to the chief of Russia’s General Staff, the "Arab Spring" also resulted in the "migration chaos" in Europe

Libyan military soldiers fire their weapons during clashes with Islamic militias in Benghazi AP Photo/Mohammed El-Sheikhy, File

Libyan military soldiers fire their weapons during clashes with Islamic militias in Benghazi

© AP Photo/Mohammed El-Sheikhy, File

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25 years of Storm

MOSCOW, April 27. /TASS/. After the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya turned into a base for expansion of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization (banned in Russia) and other terrorist groups, Chief of Russia’s General Staff Valery Gerasimov said on Wednesday at the 5th Moscow International Security Conference.

"Libya, where President Gaddafi was overthrown with the help of a military intervention, is practically ceasing it existence as a centralized state, becoming a base for expansion of ISIL [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant - former name of IS] and other terrorist groups," Gerasimov said.

The "Arab Spring" also resulted in the "migration chaos" in Europe, he added.

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