...Self-proclaimed Field Marshal, served in the Libyan army under Muammar Qadaffy, and took part in the coup that brought Qadaffy to power in 1969. He became a prisoner of war in Chad in 1987. While held prisoner, he and his fellow officers formed a group hoping to overthrow Qadaffy, so it's kind of hard to describe him as a Qadaffy holdover. He was released around 1990 in a deal with the United States government and spent nearly two decades in the United States, gaining US citizenship. In 1993, while living in the United States, he was convicted in absentia of crimes against the Jamahiriya and sentenced to death. Haftar held a senior position in the anti-Qadaffy forces in the 2011 Libyan Civil War. In 2014 he was commander of the Libyan Army when the General National Congress (GNC) refused to give up power in accordance with its term of office. Haftar launched a campaign against the GNC and its Islamic fundamentalist allies. His campaign allowed elections to take place to replace the GNC, but then developed into a civil war. Guess you can't win them all...
under the supervision of UAE and Egypt.
The newspaper said two Russian aircraft landed in Benghazi airport over the last three days coming from Syria with Russian mercenaries from two private firms (Moran and Schit Security Groups) on board in addition to Syrian contractors who work for the Russian forms in Syria.
According to the newspaper, the expansion of mercenary presence in Libya for Haftar's support by Russia is an attempt by Moscow to have a say in the Libyan conflict in order to be a strong negotiator with
...the decaying remnant of the Ottoman Empire..., which is supporting the Presidential Council's government, just like what happened in Syria, where both Russia and Turkey sat on the table after Ankara entered North Syria.
Meanwhile,
...back at the alley, Slats Chumbaloni was staring into a hole that was just .45 inch in diameter and was less than three feet from his heavily sweating face ...
Itamilradar website said a Russian aircraft landed Monday in Benghazi after two similar landings in the last two days, adding that it arrived from Moscow after making a landing in Latakia, Syria for some hours.
Two similar landings of Russian aircraft took place in Benghazi over the last two days, according to Itamilradar website.
Related:
Russian Air Force: 2019-12-25 Jihadists launch counter-offensive to capture key town in southeast Idlib
Russian Air Force: 2019-12-24 Turkish-backed militants issue general mobilization call after major setback in Idlib
Russian Air Force: 2019-12-24 Syrian Army captures more ground in southeast Idlib as Turkish military post is nearly besieged
Russian Air Force: 2019-12-25 Jihadists launch counter-offensive to capture key town in southeast Idlib
Russian Air Force: 2019-12-24 Turkish-backed militants issue general mobilization call after major setback in Idlib
Russian Air Force: 2019-12-24 Syrian Army captures more ground in southeast Idlib as Turkish military post is nearly besieged
Related:
Wagner Group: 2019-12-17 Russia's only aircraft carrier, the Kuznetsov, is a floating hell for the crew
Wagner Group: 2019-12-06 Libyan officials cite evidence of Russian mercenaries in war
Wagner Group: 2019-12-03 Libya's Presidential Council says airstrikes of Haftar's forces are "war crimes"
Wagner Group: 2019-12-17 Russia's only aircraft carrier, the Kuznetsov, is a floating hell for the crew
Wagner Group: 2019-12-06 Libyan officials cite evidence of Russian mercenaries in war
Wagner Group: 2019-12-03 Libya's Presidential Council says airstrikes of Haftar's forces are "war crimes"