Russia-backed Wagner Group mercenaries are digging an enormous trench in war-torn Libya, potentially threatening to derail a UN-brokered peace deal, CNN reported. The trench was seemingly being dug to repel an attack by the UN-recognised government against fighters loyal to Khalifa Haftar. The construction has raised fears that foreign fighters will not be leaving the country any time soon, as mandated by the UN peace deal. Washington has for months accused the Wagner Group of providing support to Haftar in violation of a UN arms embargo on the country. A September 2020 report from US Africa Command said that there were about 10,000 foreign fighters in Libya on both sides, including 3,000 from the Wagner Group.

Source: Libya Today January 22, 2021 22:41 UTC