Libya - UAE backed Haftar loses Airbase

[El Nikko + 2,145]

Things hotting up in Libya over the last few months as Turkey and their 'Syrian' fighter backed GNA take the Al-Watiah airbase and destroy surface to air missile trucks.

Satellite Images: Impact Of May 16 Turksih Strikes On Al-Watiah Air Base

Donate

Israel’s ImageSat Intl. released satellite images showing the impact of May 16 Turkish strikes on the al-Watiah air base in Libya. At that moment, the air base was controlled by the Libyan National Army. On May 18, it was captured by Turkish-backed forces.

On May 16, Turkey conducted several airstrikes on the al-Watiah air base. Pro-Turkish sources claimed that the strikes destroyed a Russian-made Pantisr-S1 air defense system. However, later it appeared that the destroyed vehicle was a rocket system.

Click to see the full-size image

 

https://southfront.org/satellite-images-impact-of-may-16-turksih-strikes-on-al-watiah-air-base/

[El Nikko + 2,145]

Looks like Egypt allow operations from one of their airbases as I mentioned in another thread. Aircraft being supplied to the LNA by Russia and UAE

Haftar’s Force Announce Beginning Of “Largest Aerial Campaign In Libyan History”

On May 21^st, Libyan National Army (LNA) air force chief Saqr al-Jaroushi announced the beginning of the “largest aerial campaign in Libyan history.”

“You are about to see the largest aerial campaign in Libyan history in the coming hours,” al-Jaroushi said. “All Turkish positions and interests in all cities are legitimate targets for our airforce jets and we call on civilians to stay away from them.”

The Government of National Accord’s (GNA) interior minister Fathi Bashagha said the GNA had received information that at least six MiG 29s and two Sukhoi 24s had flown into the east from the Russian-controlled Hmeimim Air Base in Syria, escorted by two SU-35 Russian airforce jets.

On May 19^th, the top UN envoy for Libya Stephanie Williams reports alarming military escalation in the country.

 

The GNA is attempting to enter al-Asabiah town on its way to Tarhuna, as the focus is turning towards it after al-Watiya was captured.

Heavy airstrike and shelling activity is being observed from both sides, however, the LNA’s “largest ever campaign” is yet to begin.

In support of the LNA, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al Sisi affirmed that Egypt’s stance regarding the situation in Libya which includes reaching a political solution, preserving the country’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.

During the African Union Contact Group on Libya videoconferencing meeting, Sisi said that Libya’s stability is one of the determinants of the Egyptian national security, adding that Egypt has not and will not tolerate terrorist groups and those who support them.

According to presidency spokesperson Bassam Radi, Sisi stressed that Egypt supports the free will of the Libyan people and their choices, along with the complete refusal for any external interference in the Libyan internal affairs.

Edited May 21, 2020 by El Nikko

[Douglas Buckland + 6,308]

Somehow, someway this will be the fault of the US and those nefarious Jews...

When is the EU going to go in and sort this out? Isn’t Turkey aspiring to get into the EU? There’s some leverage....

[El Nikko + 2,145]

[El Nikko + 2,145]

1 minute ago, Douglas Buckland said:

Somehow, someway this will be the fault of the US and those nefarious Jews...

When is the EU going to go in and sort this out? Isn’t Turkey aspiring to get into the EU? There’s some leverage....

The EU 'supports' the GNA but I guess they left it to the Turks to sort out as they might be better recieved than European troops?

I was expecting the Italians to get involved last year since it used to be one of their colonies and they still have ties there.

 

[Douglas Buckland + 6,308]

You know what they say about Italian armor....one forward gear and ten reverse.

Second only to French armor, which has no forward gear.

This should get interesting....😂

[El Nikko + 2,145]

[El Nikko + 2,145]

Bloomberg | Haftar’s Forces Announce Air Campaign Against Turkey in Libya | 21-05-20
— "Russian-backed Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar’s air force will launch what is says are unprecedented strikes on Turkish targets in the North African country, signaling a possible escalation after a week of setbacks in the war against the Turkish-backed government in Tripoli.

The announcement came as Fathi Bashagha, the security chief of Haftar’s rivals in the internationally-recognized government in Tripoli, told Bloomberg at least eight Soviet-era jets have arrived in the east from a Russian airbase in Syria, possibly to assist in any new aerial campaign.

Haftar’s forces, backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russian mercenaries, launched the war to take the capital more than a year ago, making inroads in Tripoli’s suburbs. Turkish military intervention, however, has turned the tide in the battle for the OPEC member state, forcing Haftar’s troops to withdraw from a strategic airbase this week and to announce a partial withdrawal from the frontlines in Tripoli.

The defeats were accompanied by a Turkish armed drone campaign that targeted Russian-made Pantsir air defense systems. One of the batteries was captured intact and paraded in Tripoli on Wednesday."

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-21/haftar-s-forces-announce-air-campaign-against-turkey-in-libya