The US military accused Russia on Friday of supplying more weapons, air defense systems and mercenaries to Libya's front lines.
The US Africa Command, or AFRICOM, said there was verified photographic evidence on Russia’s increased military support for Libyan National Army (LNA) leader Khalifa Haftar.
“The type and volume of equipment demonstrates an intent toward sustained offensive combat action capabilities, not humanitarian relief, and indicates the Russian Ministry of Defense is supporting these operations,” said US Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Bradford Gering, AFRICOM director of operations.
The statement warned that Russia, in a bid to “establish a long-term presence" on the Mediterranean, was fueling the mayhem in Libya, “increasing the risk for miscalculation leading to continued and needless violence.”
In its latest deployments, Russian military cargo planes landed at al-Khadim airfield to support hundreds of mercenaries supplied by the Wagner Group, a Kremlin-linked private military company, AFRICOM said.
Moscow is also operating air defense equipment “through Wagner Group or their proxies,” and providing mine-resistant armored vehicles, the statement added.
Previously, the US military accused Russia of sending 14 fighter jets to Jufra airbase and claimed Wagner mercenaries planted landmines and improvised explosive devices in Tripoli’s civilian neighborhoods.
