The United States Army has said Russia appears to be sending more military equipment to its mercenaries in Libya, including in the city of Sirte, flash point, in violation of an arms embargo.
The U.S. Army’s Africa Command (AFRICOM) said on Friday there was mounting evidence of satellite photos of Moscow’s military cargo planes, including the IL-6, carrying supplies to Russian fighters. private military contractor Wagner Group
“The images reflect the wide scope of Russian involvement,” said US Army Brigadier General Gregory Hadfield, AFRICOM deputy chief intelligence officer, in a statement posted on the military command website.
“They continue to seek to try to establish themselves in Libya.”
“Russian air defense teams, including SA-22s, are present in Libya and are operated by Russia, the Wagner Group or their representatives. The photos also show Wagner utility trucks and Russian mine and armored resistant armored vehicles They are also present in Libya.The type and volume of the team demonstrate an intention toward sustained offensive combat action capabilities. “
Libya was thrown into chaos by the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that overthrew and killed its lifelong leader, Muammar Gaddafi.
Since then, the oil-rich country has been divided, with an internationally recognized National Accord (GNA) government controlling the capital, Tripoli and the northwest, while renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar and his self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) in Benghazi it controls the east.
Haftar has the support of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Russia, while the GNA is backed by Turkey.
In May, a leaked US report revealed that Russian private military contractor Wagner Group deployed around 1,200 mercenaries in Libya to strengthen Haftar’s forces.
The 57-page report by independent sanctions monitors, presented to the UN Security Council’s Libyan Sanctions Committee (UNSC), said Wagner deployed mercenaries on specialized military tasks, including sniper teams.
UN sanctions supervisors identified more than two dozen flights between Russia and eastern Libya from August 2018 to August 2019 by civil aircraft “strongly linked to or belonging to” the Wagner Group or related companies.
The monitors also listed the details of 122 Wagner agents, of whom “many are most likely operational or have been operational within Libya.”
Russia and the LNA have denied previous US military statements that Moscow sent fighter jets to back Wagner’s forces in the North African country.
When asked in January if the Wagner Group was fighting in Libya, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that if there were Russians in Libya, they did not represent the Russian state, nor were they paid by the state.
Fighters loyal to the UN-recognized Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) secure the Abu Qurain area, halfway between the capital Tripoli and Libya’s second largest city, Benghazi, against forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar, based in east Benghazi. [Mahmud Turkia/AFP]
AFRICOM’s claims come after a meeting on Wednesday between Turkish and Russian delegations in Ankara to discuss the Libyan war.
The two sides agreed to press ahead with efforts for a lasting ceasefire in the country, according to Turkey’s foreign ministry.
A joint statement released after the meeting said the parties agreed to work together and encourage Libya’s opposing factions to create “conditions for a lasting and sustainable ceasefire” and joint efforts to advance political dialogue.
SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies
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