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Libyan Air Force destroys Russian air defense system used by Haftar's forces
[Libya Observer] Joint operations room of western Libya said its forces had destroyed four air defense systems (Pantsir S-1) used by Khalifa Haftar...Self-proclaimed Field Marshal, served in the Libyan army under Muammar Qadaffy, and took part in the coup that brought Qadaffy to power in 1969. He became a prisoner of war in Chad in 1987. While held prisoner, he and his fellow officers formed a group hoping to overthrow Qadaffy, so it's kind of hard to describe him as a Qadaffy holdover. He was released around 1990 in a deal with the United States government and spent nearly two decades in the United States, gaining US citizenship. In 1993, while living in the United States, he was convicted in absentia of crimes against the Jamahiriya and sentenced to death. Haftar held a senior position in the anti-Qadaffy forces in the 2011 Libyan Civil War. In 2014 he was commander of the Libyan Army when the General National Congress (GNC) refused to give up power in accordance with its term of office. Haftar launched a campaign against the GNC and its Islamic fundamentalist allies. His campaign allowed elections to take place to replace the GNC, but then developed into a civil war. Guess you can't win them all... 's forces and three ammunition vehicles in  ...KABOOM!... s on last Tuesday. In a statement on Thursday, the room said their fighter jets had destroyed Sukhoi 22 warplane at al-Watiya airbase on Wednesday, in addition to howitzer artillery, and a tank and seized some vehicles. "Our operations will continue and will be intensified until the attacking forces are defeated." The room said. Meanwhile, ...back at the Senate, the partisans of Honorius went for their knives and the partisans of Stilicho went for the doors... a Russian newspaper cited Libyan social media activists' photos showing a Russian Pantsir S-1 air defense system arriving in al-Jufra airbase via a UAE transportation jet in order to back up Haftar's forces. The newspaper says the system was seen on a Germany-made truck, saying that only the UAE has this air defense system. "The UAE supported Haftar with military vehicles, warplanes, and other combat supplies, which means it has provided him with this Russian air defense system." The newspaper added. A source from Volcano of rage Operation said earlier they had destroyed trucks and ammo going to Gharyan from al-Jufra, with reports saying the Russian air defense system was among the destroyed items. Posted by: Fred 2019-06-22 |
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