Currently, Russian troops are said to be bringing weapons from Syria to Libya. This concerns military equipment from the Russian naval base Tartus and the Hmeimin air base in Syria. Last Friday, satellite images showed that at least one large plane was flying towards Libya.
This was said by a member of the Syrian security forces who was outside the facility. According to information, both equipment and senior officers are being returned to Moscow. With the fall of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, the future of the Russian air base Hmeimin and the naval port in Tartus is uncertain. Tartus is Russia’s only port of call for repairs and supplies in the Mediterranean, Hmeimin is an important hub for military activities in Africa.
The government in Moscow said it was holding talks with Syria’s new rulers over the two bases. In 2017, Russia got a free 49-year lease for Tartus. Military sources say there are no signs the Kremlin wants to give up its bases in Syria. Russian troops would be withdrawn from the previous front lines in the country. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the withdrawal of air defenses.
Libyan government leader warns of ‘battlefield’
There have been reports for several days that Russian forces are moving military equipment into eastern Libya. Chaos and violence have reigned since the fall of ruler Muammar al-Gaddafi in 2011. Armed militias and foreign mercenaries are fighting each other. The interim government in the capital is battling for power with a rival government in the east. The Kremlin has close ties with the opposing government in the city of Benghazi.
“We are concerned that international conflicts will be transferred to Libya and that the country will become a battlefield,” Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah said on Thursday. “No one with even an ounce of patriotism wants a foreign power to arrive and exercise its hegemony and authority over the country and its people (…).”
Russian ships and submarines in the Mediterranean are “a cause for concern, especially if they are just a stone’s throw from us,” Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
