Small Wars Journal

Russia Dominated Syria’s War. Now It’s Sending Mercenaries to Libya.

Tue, 11/05/2019 - 12:40pm

Russia Dominated Syria’s War. Now It’s Sending Mercenaries to Libya. By David D. Kirkpatrck – New York Times

… After four years of behind-the-scenes financial and tactical support for a would-be Libyan strongman, Russia is now pushing far more directly to shape the outcome of Libya’s messy civil war. It has introduced advanced Sukhoi jets, coordinated missile strikes, and precision-guided artillery, as well as the snipers — the same playbook that made Moscow a kingmaker in the Syrian civil war.

“It is exactly the same as Syria,” said Fathi Bashagha, interior minister of the provisional unity government in the capital, Tripoli.

Whatever its effect on the outcome, the Russian intervention has already given Moscow a de facto veto over any resolution of the conflict…

Read on.