U.S. Africa Command has discovered more Russian military equipment in Libya capable of assisting in operations against the U.S. and United Nations-backed Government of National Accord, officials said in a media release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The latest overhead imagery details military cargo aircraft, air defense equipment, utility trucks, and mine-resistant, ambush-protected armored vehicles provided to the Wagner Group<\/a> \u2014 a private military company that U.S. officials have warned has close ties to the Kremlin and is headed by a former Russian intelligence officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite constant denials of involvement from Russia, officials believe the imagery reflects a broad scope of Russian involvement and attempts to gain a foothold in Libya \u2014 a violation of a UN arms embargo \u2014 according to a press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRussian involvement is evident \u2014 which the Kremlin lies about every time they deny it,\u201d said Col. Chris Karns, AFRICOM director of public affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Libya was split into two governments after a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi who was later killed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the east stands a government allied with military commander Khalifa Hifter, backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Russia \u2014 and in the west is one in Tripoli, supported by the UN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The imagery, released July 24, shows Wagner forces and equipment on the front lines of the Libyan conflict in Sirte \u2014 where both sides in Libya\u2019s civil war have been mobilizing to in previous weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hifter\u2019s forces took over Sirte, Gadhafi\u2019s birthplace and a former stronghold of the Islamic State, in January. Retaking Sirte would give Tripoli forces a chance to gain control of oil fields and facilities in the south that Hifter had earlier seized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe type and volume of equipment demonstrates an intent toward sustained offensive combat action capabilities,\u201d said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Bradford Gering, AFRICOM director of operations, \u201cand indicates the Russian Ministry of Defense is supporting these operations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n