Libyan official says opposition sought Russian military aid, training
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 15 March 2017 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Libyan official says opposition sought Russian military aid, training, 15 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5975a652a.html [accessed 29 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
March 15, 2017
Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar visited Moscow last November.
Libya's opposition government in the east, which opposes the UN-backed leadership in Tripoli, has requested military aid from Russia and received promises of support, a key official said.
"Most of our officers trained in Russia, and many can speak Russian and know how to use Russian equipment," Aguila Saleh, speaker of the opposition government's parliament in the eastern city of Tobruk, told the Russian news agency RIA Novosti on March 14.
"We were promised assistance in the fight against terrorism," Saleh said, vowing that his government's army, led by anti-Islamist military strongman Khalifa Haftar, would take over oil fields and ports currently controlled by the Tripoli leadership.
Haftar traveled twice to Moscow last year, spoke with Russia's defense minister, and boarded a Russian aircraft carrier off Libya's coast.
Saleh said that about 70 soldiers from Haftar's forces were sent to Russia last month for medical treatment.
Saleh's statements came after Russia's Defense Ministry denied reports that it had sent troops to the Egyptian town of Sidi Barrani, near Libya's eastern border, as part of an alleged effort to support the opposition government.
Based on reporting by AP and dpa
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
