The Libyan government based in Tripoli has refuted claims of its involvement in the recent drone strikes on a base utilized by the Russian paramilitary group known as Wagner. A military source from the eastern camp had reported the strikes, but the Tripoli government has firmly denied any responsibility, as reported by the media.
According to the anonymous military source, the al-Kharrouba air base, located 150km southeast of Benghazi, was targeted by drone strikes of unknown origin. It is believed that this base houses members of the Wagner group. However, news websites have attributed the attack to the armed forces of the UN-recognized government in Tripoli. It’s worth noting that the legitimacy of this government is disputed by the rival camp in eastern Libya.
In response to the allegations, the Ministry of Defense of the Government of National Unity in Tripoli expressed surprise and denied any involvement in the strikes. They emphasized their adherence to the ceasefire signed in October 2020 and stated that none of their aircraft had targeted any site in the eastern region. General Mohamad al-Haddad, Chief of Staff of the armed forces in western Libya, echoed these sentiments, stating that such information aims to rekindle the war between Libyan factions and involve the country in a regional conflict.
Libya has been engulfed in a severe political crisis since the downfall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011, which has been exacerbated by divisions between the East and West and foreign interference. From April 2019 to June 2020, Khalifa Haftar, the influential figure in Libya’s eastern camp, enlisted Chadian, Sudanese, Nigerian, and Syrian fighters, along with mercenaries from Wagner, in his failed attempt to seize the capital, Tripoli. However, since the ceasefire agreement in October 2020, a military commission has been tasked with ensuring compliance. Meanwhile, hundreds of Wagner members have remained active in eastern Libya, particularly in the area of the oil terminals and southern regions, after some of their troops were deployed to Mali or Ukraine to support the Russian army.
By Hauwa M. for Africanews
