The US State Department is being asked to provide a proper explanation for the discover, during recent fighting in Libya, of US-made Javelin anti-tank missiles at a base belonging to rebel leader, and former CIA asset, Gen. Khalifa Hafter.
It would not have been legal for the US government to secretly provide Hafter with such missiles, nor indeed would it be likely so long as officials continue to claim at least some support to the Government of National Accord.
Which doesn’t mean it might not still be a huge diplomatic issue. The crates the missiles were found in show the missiles were initially sold to the United Arab Emirates. If the UAE, who are known to back Hafter, are found to have given him US-made arms, it almost certainly would violate agreements with the US.
The State Department has confirmed that they are looking into it, and consider the allegations of weapons transfers “very seriously.” Other weapons found at Gen. Hafter’s base were made in China, and were probably sourced by the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
China is generally less restrictive of second-hand weapons transfers of this sort, and so fa they have not issued any statements on the weapons found. The UAE has also not issued any statements confirming or denying what happened to those missiles.
UN-Backed Libyan Govt Says US Missiles Found at Haftar Base
US sold missiles to UAE, now in possession of Hafter forces
Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.
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