Russia: Al-Qaeda Likely Got Anti-Aircraft Missiles From Libya

Missing Hand-Held Missiles 'Ideal' for Terrorists

by Jason Ditz, September 14, 2011

The head of Russia’s anti-terrorism agency Ilya Rogachov today warned that al-Qaeda has likely gotten a number of anti-aircraft missiles in the aftermath of the Libyan civil war, and that the portable weapons are “ideal” for terrorists.

Following the rebel conquest of Tripoli, many of Libya’s largest weapons dumps have been left totally unguarded, and were looted en masse by people hoping to smuggle the weapons out of the nation to sell them.

The local al-Qaeda affiliate, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), is believed to be using the opportunity to buy up as many weapons as they can at rock bottom prices, as Libya’s enormous weapons stockpile starts showing up on the open market and priced to move.

AQIM has been quick to take advantage of extra weapons in the region, and when French forces dropped arms for a rebel force in late June, the group had already gotten its hands on some of the new weapons within a few days.

Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz