Four U.S. military personnel are being detained in Libya by the Libyan government, according to several sources citing a senior U.S. official.
The New York Times reports the circumstances of the detention are not known. The official cited by CNN said the four are believed to be detained by the Libyan ministry of interior. The official also told CNN that the four were assigned to Libya for "augmenting security at the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli."
Steve Brusk, a correspondent with CNN tweeted that the U.S. is "in touch" with the Libyan government, in hopes of learning more of why the four were detained.
The New York Times pointed out that photos passed on Twitter, purportedly of American passports and embassy identity cards, were not commented on by the State Department.
Last month, the U.S. military announced that it was developing plans to train Libyan security forces to provide stability to a government strained by opposing militias and hardline Islamists.
UPDATE 10:55 p.m. ET -- Reuters reports: All four U.S. military personnel detained in Libya have been released, according to a U.S. Defense Official.
The New York Times reports the circumstances of the detention are not known. The official cited by CNN said the four are believed to be detained by the Libyan ministry of interior. The official also told CNN that the four were assigned to Libya for "augmenting security at the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli."
Steve Brusk, a correspondent with CNN tweeted that the U.S. is "in touch" with the Libyan government, in hopes of learning more of why the four were detained.
US official: "we are seeking to further ascertain the facts and ensure their release. We are in touch with Libyan officials on this issue"
— Steve Brusk (@stevebruskCNN) December 28, 2013
The New York Times pointed out that photos passed on Twitter, purportedly of American passports and embassy identity cards, were not commented on by the State Department.
Last month, the U.S. military announced that it was developing plans to train Libyan security forces to provide stability to a government strained by opposing militias and hardline Islamists.
UPDATE 10:55 p.m. ET -- Reuters reports: All four U.S. military personnel detained in Libya have been released, according to a U.S. Defense Official.