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| Africa North |
| Russian experts are supporting Haftar’s forces via Egyptian-Emirati assistance |
| 2016-11-09 |
| [Libya Observer] A number of Russian experts arrived in the eastern region to support Khalifa Haftar ... 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. 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 Dignity Operation forces, The New Arab reported Tuesday. "The Russian support is conducted through UAE and Egyptian mediation assistance." The newspaper added. It also reported Libyan reliable sources as saying that the Russian experts had arrived in the areas where Haftar’s forces are in control. "There are tens of them and they are specialized in different war-related fields." The New Arab added, saying that those were the first group out of other ones as per an agreement between Haftar and Russian officials. It also explained that the agreement aims to reassemble Hafatr’s forces, renew the weapons system they have, and overhaul the air and naval defense systems. "The whole air force system used by Haftar’s forces was overhauled by the Russian experts." The London-based newspaper said according to its own sources. It indicated that the Libyan-Russian ties are being woven by the Emirati and Egyptian assistance, adding that many meetings between Tobruk government and Russian officials have been taken place in Cairo for a year, resulting in these agreements and procedures on the ground. "Military deals are on the table between Tobruk camp and Russia and they are worth 4 billion dinars." The New Arab stated, concluding that other military groups specialized in training will also arrive in the east. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 Let us just keep our heads cool until the Erdogon/Obama axis is out. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2016-11-09 12:09 |
| #2 You mean rope Alan? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2016-11-09 08:47 |
| #1 they are worth 4 billion dinars And there you have motivations all in a nutshell. Since we are no longer dependent on ME oil, how much latitude should Russia be allowed? |
| Posted by: AlanC 2016-11-09 08:01 |