US security contractor Eric Prince, a close ally of today’s former President Donald Trump, violated the UN arms embargo on Libya along with three companies based in the United Arab Emirates and their top managers during an operation to help a military rebel commander to capture the capital, Tripoli, experts from the world body said. “The Project Opus plan also included a component to kidnap or eliminate individuals considered high-value targets in Libya,” according to experts. In April 2019, Hifter and his forces, supported by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, launched an offensive in an attempt to capture Tripoli. The expert panel said in the report that it identified “Project Opus” in June 2019. Prince became involved when Jordanian authorities learned of elements of the plan “and suspended the auction” of surplus military helicopters to Hifter on June 18, 2019, according to experts.

Source: Libya Today February 21, 2021 07:38 UTC