Multiple foreign powers have sent fighters and weapons, fuelling a bloody proxy war that reflects wider geopolitical rifts and divisions in the Middle East and within NATO. Turkey's military support for the GNA has recently tipped the balance and allowed its forces in June to repel Haftar's 14-month advance on Tripoli and launch a counteroffensive. In Libya, Haftar has received support from Russia's Wagner Group, a shadowy private security firm reportedly close to Putin which Washington has labelled "an instrument of the Kremlin's policy". A UN experts' report says Wagner has backed Haftar with "combat and influence operations", sniper teams and technical support. The UN report also said Haftar was receiving help from pro-Damascus Syrian fighters and mercenaries from Sudan and other countries.Egypt, worried about security along its long desert border with Libya, has long backed Haftar who is based in adjoining eastern Libya.

Source: Standard Digital July 14, 2020 06:56 UTC