US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel spoke by phone Thursday to his newly-appointed Libyan counterpart, Abdullah Al-Thani, in which he \"highlighted the United States\' support to Libya and its people during its transition,\" according to a Pentagon statement. The two leaders discussed ways in which the US military can assist Libyan security forces and strengthen the rule of law in the North African nation and surrounding region. The statement concluded that Hagel and Al-Thani \"expressed their appreciation for both countries\' commitment to deepening the US-Libyan relationship, and agreed to continue efforts to strengthen military cooperation.\"