Terror experts: Libya's little victories won't end ISIS crisis

Libyans crowded Benghazi’s streets in celebration today after army units and civilian fighters cleared Islamic extremists from the town’s al-Laithi district. The successful campaign follows a U.S. airstrike that killed more than 40 Islamic militants on Friday. But experts warn these small victories are not enough to stop Islamic State (ISIS) militants, who continue to launch deadly attacks in other parts of the country.

Libyan army spokesman Khalifa al-Obeidi said troops loyal to the internationally backed government killed at least 30 rival militants. They cleared out a main hospital and port facility in eastern Benghazi, which served as the largest supply line for the terrorists. After the battle, Libyan forces stood guard as displaced residents visited their destroyed homes in a district long held by the militants.

Friday’s U.S. airstrike hit an ISIS training camp in Sabratha and killed Noureddine Chouchane, a militant leader connected to last year’s attacks on a beach and museum in Tunisia. The airstrike came less than a week after U.S. President Barack Obama promised to prevent ISIS from gaining a foothold in Libya.

But analysts warn military intervention is hasty and could bring new problems for the country.

“A military action too soon would be counterproductive,” said Oliver Miles, former British ambassador to Libya. “It would destroy the possibility of a political solution.”

Since 2011, the Libyan government has been split between Islamic factions, including militants from al-Qaeda and ISIS affiliates, and an internationally recognized parliament. Earlier today, the parliament postponed a vote on a unity government, an unexpected delay caused by problems maintaining a quorum of representatives.

But as the political tug-of-war drags on, Islamic State militants continue to spread terror.

The Libyan town of Sirte remains an ISIS stronghold. And U.S. officials say the extremist group is bringing in more fighters from other parts of Africa, raising the projected number of fighters to about 5,000.

“In a larger context, the cancer of ISIS is spreading,” said Paul Sullivan, a Middle East expert at Georgetown University. “This war could be a very long one that cannot be resolved with pinprick maneuvers like bombing every so often.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.