Russian bombers are in Libya, possibly belonging to a private military company

By Boyko Nikolov On Jul 24, 2020


TRIPOLI, (BM) – The United States of America accused Russia of transferring its military aircraft to Libya for direct participation in hostilities in this country, learned BulgarianMilitary.com.

Read more: 24/7 BulgarianMilitary.com – All about Libyan civil war

We are talking about the front-line Su-24 bombers, which have never been in service with Libya. However, among other things, Il-76 military transport aircraft, Tiger armored vehicles, as well as air defense systems of various configurations were also transferred to Libya.


The American military does not exclude that the weapons may not belong to the Russian military, but to private military companies, and, most likely, we are talking about the Wagner PMC.

Despite the fact that the American military intelligence does not have direct evidence that Russia carried out the transfer of its military aircraft to Syria, experts draw attention to the fact that the Su-24 front-line bombers, Tiger armored vehicles have never been in service with Libya before and other weapons.

On the other hand, earlier Syrian sources reported that Syrian Air Force fighters were flying towards Libya, in particular, they were talking about MiG-29 fighters, but the purpose of such flights was also not disclosed.

The information provided by the US authorities proves an earlier allegation of a large transfer of weapons from Russia to Libya.

As we reported on June 26 and according headquarters of the Government of National Accord (GNA) of Libya the Libyan city of Sirte is the transfer of militants and weapons from Russia.

According to representatives of the GNA, 11 Russian-made military transport aircraft such as An and Il made a landing at Al-Girdabiye airbase near the city of Sirte. It is also reported on the transfer there of mercenaries from Syria, as well as six complexes “Pantsir-S1”.


Same day [June 26 – ed.] the Libyan National Petroleum Corporation announced that Russian mercenaries had invaded the largest oil field in Libya, Al-Sharara. Allegedly, the night before a convoy of cars entered the field and met with representatives of the NOC facility security.

Russia has repeatedly been accused of invading Libya. On June 23, Petr Ilyichev, director of the department of international organizations of the Russian Foreign Ministry, denied this. “People allegedly fighting in Libya did not actually leave our country. The so-called wounded are quite healthy. It is all available in the public space and again verifiable,” he stressed.

A few days earlier [June 20 – ed.] the United States again accused Russia of supplying fighters, but this time the MiG-29.

AFRICOM said then that it has documentary evidence that “a Russian plane took off from the Jufra air base in central Libya” and that “it was a MiG-29 operating near the coastal city of Sirte”.

Also, a few weeks after the end of May the AFRICOM made a statement that Russia delivered at least 14 MiG-29 multipurpose fighters and several Su-24 bombers to Libya via the Khmeimim airbase in Syria.

It was alleged that the planes first arrived from Russia at the Russian Khmeimim air base in Syria, where they were repainted and then sent to Libya.


AFRICOM commander General Stephen Townsend said the US military “saw Russia send fourth-generation fighters to Libya.” According to him, neither the LNA, nor private military companies will be able to get such aircraft without the help of Russia.

The State Duma Committee on Defense called fake allegations by the US military about Russian combat aircraft sent to Libya. The information that Russia has transferred fighters and bombers to a North African country is untrue, said Andrei Krasov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma’s Defense Committee, on May 26.

The Turkish state media, whose authorities provide powerful military support to the Libyan National Accord Government, have previously pointed out the strategic importance of the port city of Sirte for Russia, which “is largely due to the location of the large Jufra air base 300 kilometers south of it.”

“It is precisely at this airbase that the Russian side looks, trying to gain a foothold in North Africa and gain access to the southern coast of the Mediterranean,” said one of the publications on the pages of the Turkish state news agency Anadolu.

Libyan civil war

Having ruled the country since 1969, Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in the 2011 civil war. As a result, the country found itself in a situation of dual power: in the east, a parliament is sitting in Tobruk, supported by the Libyan national army, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, and in the west, in Tripoli, a government of national accord.


In Libya, armed clashes are currently taking place between supporters of different leaders. The country is led by the Government of National Accord (GNA), headed by Prime Minister Fayez Saraj, the “eastern government” led by Abdullah Abdurrahaman at-Thani.

The eastern government is supported by the commander of the Libyan National Army, Khalifa Haftar.

Recall that January 13 in Moscow, negotiations were held between the heads of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalif Haftar and the Government of National Accord (GNA) Faiz Sarraj. Also present were members of the Foreign Ministries of Russia and Turkey.

On the meeting the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, has notified Russia about the conditions for continuing negotiations on the signing of a peace agreement in Libya.

According to the requirements of Haftar, the militias operating in Libya are required to surrender weapons in the period from 45 to 90 days. This process should be controlled by a special commission created by the LNA together with the UN.

Haftar also refused to recognize Turkey as an intermediary in resolving the situation in Libya, since the Turkish side is not neutral and supports the Government of National Accord (GNA).

At the same time, the GNA is actively supporting Turkey, and Egypt and Saudi Arabia are on the side of the LNA. Its unofficial allies are France and the UAE.

Ruling the country since 1969, Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed during the 2011 civil war. As a result, the country found itself in a situation of dual power: in the east, a parliament sits in Tobruk, supported by the Libyan national army of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, and in the west in Tripoli, a government of national accord. At the same time, the PNC actively supports Turkey, and Egypt and Saudi Arabia are on the side of the LNA. Its unofficial allies are France and the UAE.

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BulgarianMilitary.com
Editorial team