"We can confirm that four US military personnel are currently being held in Libyan government custody," said Jen Psaki, State Department spokesperson. "We are seeking to further ascertain the facts and ensure their release. We are in touch with Libyan officials on this issue."
It is yet unknown why the American service members are being held, though it is believed that Libya’s Ministry of the Interior detained the four individuals, a senior US Defense Department official told CNN.
The service members were reportedly in Libya "augmenting security at the US Embassy in Tripoli," the official added.
Photos of two American passports and embassy ID cards were posted on Twitter, supposedly related to the detentions, The New York Times reported.
The original detainment occurred in a town southwest of the Roman ruins, at Sabratha, according to the Times.
The detentions follow an announcement by the United States in November that it would increase support for Libya’s security forces, which have been overwhelmed by violence and unrest since the death of Muammar Gaddafi.
source: RT
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