Just a day after US officials were grousing about Russia supporting Libyan National Army leader Gen. Khalifa Hifter, the head of the army backing the Tobruk Parliament, reports from Reuters suggest Russia has deployed a handful of special forces into western Egypt, near the Libya border.
Egyptian officials were cited as claiming there were 22 Russian special forces deployed, but declined to offer details on the mission, which makes exactly what they are there for, and the idea that they are planning to get involved in Libya, purely speculation.
It is possible, however, as Gen. Hifter, a long-time CIA asset, has sought “support” from Russia, and his forces have been recently struggling in fights against the Islamist Benghazi Defense Brigades over key oil export terminals around Ras Lanauf.
Bizarrely, while Egyptian officials confirmed the deployment off the record, Army spokesmen denied that there were any foreign soldiers in Egypt at all, which is demonstrably false as the US and other countries have had troops deployed around the country for years.
While the US is averse to the idea of Russia helping Gen. Hifter retain the oil export terminals, it doesn’t appear that the US-backed “unity government” really has a dog in this fight anyhow, as they lost their territory around the terminals long ago, and aren’t on good terms with either of the forces fighting over them now.
That US backed unity government in Tripoli is in fact Muslim Brotherhood bunch. Typical for Americans to support the islamist butchers
In fact the old rival government in Tripoli with Brotherhood links has been marginalized for a while now. Somehow, outbof nowhere came ISIS, and Tripoli government had to accept the “help” from US to get ISIS of their back. That was when US shipped in (litteraly on a ship)’ the new and improved government. Tripoli Brotherhood is mostly out of commission. But Gen. Heftar — having been loyal CIA asset up to that point running the Parliament in Tobruk on Egyptian border — suddenly found himself riding a back of a tiger. Because those that WERE the government suddenly found themselves being marginalized by the newv”unity” government. So, our general had to become a leader opposing US blessed government. Well, the moment he did it — suddenly Beghazi is again in play — and Tobruk government now pushed out of oil terminals. There is a potential for another civil war there, and this time the Fez region may get involved. This is all on Egypt’s border — and as always there will be arms smuggling, and sucking up poor people into fighters as money will be flowing. Egypt is sitting on a 3 million strong Salafi people, all inspired and funded by Saudi Arabia. Now, the Desert Kingdom is angry with Egypt for not towing the line on Yemen. It is not hard to imagine how will Saudi Arabia behave. Viciously, of course. They can mobilize — if they are not doing it already — Salafi hotheads for the cause of fighting Gen Heftar’s supporters, and deliver another hot mess of Salafi cults to stir up problem on border to Syria. US has some fabulous friends. Slightly retarded, but always ready to fight for cash and religion. I do not doubt that Russias got called in to observe the gathering storm. If aHeftar contacted anyone that would be for the purpose of preventing Salafi mobilization from Egypt.
This is f**king stupid. Russia has know sane reason to get involved in the Libyan cluster-f**k. I thought Putin was smarter than this.
We had that “unity government” with Khadafy, and with Saddam for that matter.
Strong Russia is must to keep American bastards honest.
If we had Soviet Union before there would be no invasion to Iraq Afghanistan.