Credit:  DoD  / U.S. Africa Command /  US military on Tuesday accused Russia of deploying fighter jets to Libya in support of Russian mercenaries operating in the conflict there.

By Gary Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC TIMES

The U.S. military released grainy pictures Tuesday it said proves Russia has deployed fighter jets to Libya support Moscow-backed mercenaries fighting against the U.N.-supported Libyan government.  U.S. Africa Command assessed that Moscow recently dispatched military fighter aircraft to Libya that were repainted to camouflage their Russian origin  in order to support Russian state-sponsored private military contractors (PMCs) operating on the ground. 

“Russia is clearly trying to tip the scales in its favor in Libya. Just like I saw them doing in Syria, they are expanding their military footprint in Africa using government-supported mercenary groups like Wagner,” said U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command. “For too long, Russia has denied the full extent of its involvement in the ongoing Libyan conflict. Well, there is no denying it now. We watched as Russia flew fourth generation jet fighters to Libya — every step of the way. Neither the LNA nor private military companies can arm, operate and sustain these fighters without state support — support they are getting from Russia.”

-U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command

Credit:  DoD / U.S. Africa Command / USAfricom says  Russian fighter jets were recently deployed to Libya in order to support Russian state-sponsored private military contractors (PMCs) operating on the ground there. (Photo taken and uploaded to DVIDS on May 26, 2020)

Credit:  DoD / U.S. Africa Command / USAfricom says  Russian fighter jets were recently deployed to Libya 

Russia has employed state-sponsored Wagner in Libya to conceal its direct role and to afford Moscow plausible deniability of its malign actions, according to  U.S. Africa Command, which  assesses Moscow’s military actions have prolonged the Libyan conflict and exacerbated casualties and human suffering on both sides.

“The world heard Mr. Haftar declare he was about to unleash a new air campaign. That will be Russian mercenary pilots flying Russian-supplied aircraft to bomb Libyans,”   Townsend said.

RUSSIA  Denies Sending Military Aircraft To Libya 

Moscow has long denied any involvement in Libya’s conflict. Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt support Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), which launched an offensive 13 months ago ago to seize the capital, Tripoli, from the the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA).