US officials considered hacking the Libyan government’s military networks to black out its early warning radars.
The plan was mooted prior to the US-led air strikes in March, according to the New York Times.
Obama administration officials decided against the network attack, which would have softened up its target prior to the air strikes, fearing it would set a precedent for the likes of China or Russia.
A second cyberattack had also been discussed in the lead up to the US Navy Seal raids on Pakistani territory in May, which led to the capture and killing of Osama Bin Laden.
“These cybercapabilities are still like the Ferrari that you keep in the garage and only take out for the big race and not just for a run around town, unless nothing else can get you there,” one unnamed official told the paper.
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