On 12 October, South African media outlets reported that at least four Gazelle helicopters have been ‘quietly’ exported from Lanseria International Airport in South Africa to Benghazi via Russian IL-76 aircraft. Flight plans listed Amman in Jordan as their destination after a stop – presumably for refuelling – in Nairobi.
In addition, the Geopolitical Desk reported this week that both Italy and EU Ambassador Nicola Orlando are lobbying for the release of the cargo of the Dutch cargo vessel Meerdijk which was seized by the EU’s Operation Irini in late 2022. The cargo of military vehicles was reportedly destined for the Libyan National Army (LNA) but Geopolitical Desk reports that the current proposal being pushed by the Europeans is for the cargo to be re-routed to Tripoli instead.