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Libyas top diplomat in Washington wants aggressive U.S. support in containing the Islamic States rise in her nation but strongly rejects the idea of an American-led bombing or ground offensive, saying it would just make things worse.

In an acknowledgment of how poorly some in the region see the U.S.-led campaign against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, the charge daffairs of the Libyan Embassy in Washington said replicating that strategy in Libya would likely draw more foreign fighters into the nation.

We dont want Libya to become a land for the jihadists from all over, said Wafa Bugaighis, who told reporters during a roundtable discussion that there are already more than 5,000 fighters on Libyan soil aligned with the Islamic State, also known as ISIS and ISIL.

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At the same time, Mrs. Bugaighis lamented Washingtons ambivalence toward backing what she described as the only legitimate and democratically elected government in Libya as it attempts to contain the Islamic State.

The government, which has operated out of the northeastern Libyan city of Tobruk since an Islamist parliament took over Tripoli last year, is in dire need of military training and hardware, as well as counterterrorism intelligence sharing from the West, she said.

This is the support we really want, she said. If you dry up the resources of funds and arms to [the extremists], then I think our institutions, our national institutions if they are supported by equipping and training and arms they can take care of it.

There is, however, a catch.

The Obama administration has shown little willingness to engage deeply in Libya since the 2012 terrorist attack there that killed Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. The overall posture of withdrawal has seemed only to accelerate since last year, when Libyas chaotic election gave rise to two separate governments now vying for control of the nation.

Washington and its European allies have offered rhetorical support for Mrs. Bugaighis government, which is pushing a secular message from Tobruk.

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Libya rejects U.S.-led offensive against Islamic State, seeks aid