U.S. Officials are also concerned about the Kremlin’s long-term goals in the war-torn state. An intelligence official noted that the trench was an indication that Wagner, which has its largest global presence in Libya, was “stabilizing in the long run.”
The trench, which stretches dozens of kilometers south of the populated coastal areas around Sirte towards Al-Jufra’s g hold, can be seen on a satellite image and is reinforced by a series of extended fortifications.
CNN has contacted the Russian government for comment and has received no response.
These trenches and fortifications are east of the L.N.A. It appears to have been set up to prevent or stop ground attacks on controlled areas in Libya’s populated coastal areas, the deadliest since the fall of Moammar Gadhafi’s regime in 2011.
GNA has posted images of excavators and trucks that make up the trenches and beams that run along it, and said work has been underway as recently as this month.
The U.S. intelligence official said the rift was another reason why “we do not see any motive or movement by Turkish or Russian troops to abide by the UN brokering agreement. This is an already fragile peace process and a ceasefire It’s going to be a really difficult year ahead. “
Open-source monitoring says it has mapped a range of more than 30 defensive positions stretching for about 70 kilometers over deserts and hills.
Satellite images of Maxer show both the trenches dug along the main road, and the fortifications dug by Wagner mercenaries and even their contractors.
The images show the build-up of defenses around Jufra Airbase, and further south is Brfield Airfield, where clear radar defenses have been installed and strengthened.
Saladdin al-Namrush G.N.A. The defense minister told CNN: “I don’t think anyone will dig a trench today and make these reinforcements any time soon.”
Claudia Gazini of the International Crisis Group told CNN that the trench was “really worrying” and that talk of it has been circulating among diplomats for the past few weeks. It continues and suggests that Moscow is keen to cement its presence. Libya. “
Analysts say the Kremlin is keen to boost its military presence and influence in the Mediterranean, along with NATO’s southern underworld, with an additional bonus of involvement and profits in Libya’s oil industry.
Gazzini added that there had been repeated reports that both sides continued to maintain and build the presence of foreign mercenaries, even accusing the GNA of increasing the supply of military equipment under public deals with Turkey to support the armed forces.
The U.S. intelligence official said the number of mercenaries on both sides of the GNA and LNA was relatively consistent: about 10,000 were currently in Libya, according to a September report by Africom.
The Libyan deployment of about 2,000 Wagner foreign mercenaries – most of them believed to be Russian or former Soviet nationals – is a U.S. official, the U.S. official said.
LNA spokesman Major General Khalid al-Mahjoob confirmed the existence of the trenches to CNN, but in the open field “for defense and fight”, described them as “temporary” sand barriers and trenches. He denied the presence of 2,000 Wagner tenants, saying there were advisers “announced a long time ago.”
But, in a secret UN report obtained by CNN in June, Wagner described the fighters as “effective force multipliers.”
Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin said there were no Russians in Libya, but if there were, they would not be representing Russia. Russia has always denied that it uses mercenaries to fight for it.
Despite the arms embargo, UN observers recorded dozens of Russian flights to Libya during 2020.
The U.S. Africa Command called Russia publicly for the expansion, saying it was similar to Syria’s action.
In June, the head of the Defense Committee in the upper house of the Russian parliament, Victor Bondarev, said the U.S. claim was “stupid” and suggested that there were older Soviet planes from elsewhere in Africa.
The Western diplomat, who has knowledge of the arms movement in Libya, said Russian flights in the country had dropped from a peak of 93 had in August last month, down from a dozen at the end of 2020. “They’re just surviving on the ground.” That said, Turkey was flying in equal numbers.
The Turkish military is open about its desire for a permanent presence, posting images of its troops giving GNA “base defense training” in the past week.
“It’s a comprehensive effort,” the American official said. “They’re building facilities, bringing in personnel and equipment. They’ve got a HAWK air defense missile battery, 3D. [KALAKAN] Radar. ”
Satellite imagery of the port of Al-Khoms has shown minor changes that indicate it could be equipped for a long-term Turkish naval presence, which GNA’s Al-Namrosh has denied.
A senior Turkish security official told CNN that they “continue to provide military training, cooperation and advice in accordance with the needs and demands of the GNA.”
U.S. The intelligence official revealed that the thousands of Syrian mercenaries that Turkey has entered and supported in Libya have been used elsewhere. While supporting Turkey’s Azerbaijani government during their recent conflict with Armenia, the planes took hundreds of Syrian mercenaries to Azerbaijan to help Turkey’s ally in its war with Armenia, a U.S. official said.
“It seemed that there was some movement of some Syrian mercenary forces in the direction of the conflict [Nagorno Karabakh]. “A small number in the lower hundreds,” the official added.
Analysts said Russian-backed Wagner forces would provide influence to Moscow but not responsibility. According to the official version of the Russian state, a senior ally of the Transnational Organized Crime, a leading ally of globalization, Wagner’s mercenary forces were “disposable by definition” – and “a force that does not exist,” according to the official version of the Russian state. That means it’s not huge, terrifying and absolutely ineffective, “he said.
Ghazzini added: “Russian policy in Libya is opaque – what Russia wants to do. From the evidence on the ground, it seems that they want to strengthen their influence, or find a way.”
However, the U.S. The official added that the Russian build-up is now for significant personnel and advanced equipment, but one that raised ethical concerns. The fourth-generation fighter jet and Pantsier missile system is being operated by less capable, poorly-trained Wagner mercenaries, the official said.
“Libya has complex challenges, including al Qaeda and ISIS, and with their poor level of training, experience and lack of respect for human rights and international law, they make weapons systems the most important.”
While Wagner’s presence and trenches appear to benefit LNA chief General Haftar, Russia’s presence on Moscow’s agenda seems more encouraging than Haftar’s support.
The Western diplomat said Haftar needed constant struggle in Libya to maintain consistency. “If the conflict ends, it becomes irrelevant overnight,” the diplomat said. “And if its conditions are not met, it becomes susceptible to war crimes charges.”
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