There has been a flurry of reporting on the possible transfers of Russian resources from Syria to Libya over the last two weeks.
On 17 December, the Italian Minister of Defence (MoD) Guido Crosetto claimed that Moscow is trans ferring resources from the Syrian navy base in Tartus to Libya. Crosetto said that ‘This is not good’. According to him, Russian ships and submarines in the Mediterranean are always of concern for Italy, all the more so ‘if they are just a stone’s throw from us’.
On 18 December, The New Arab reported that Russia had moved about 1,000 soldiers and officers, including war criminals, from the former Assad army’s elite troops to Libya. Allegedly, they were flown from Hmeimim Air Base near Latakia to Benghazi. The New Arab also reported that ‘Russia has transported multiple shipments of Russian officers and soldiers to various bases in Libya’. Allegedly, Russia has also redeployed an S-400 air defense system from Syria to ‘an airbase in central Libya’.
On the same day, The Wall Street Journal reported that according to U.S. and Libyan officials, Russia redeployed ‘advanced air-defense systems and other sophisticated arms’ from Syria to Libya. Alleg edly, this includes S-300 and S-400 air defense systems. However, a U.S. official told the newspaper that it was not clear whether the weapons systems, including the S-400, would remain in Libya or be flown to Russia.
On 19 December, a U.S. State Department official said that Russia seeks to strengthen its presence in Libya and use it as a base to destabilize the Sahel region, adding that Russia’s current moves are a blatant violation of Libya’s sovereignty and of the UN arms embargo.
On 22 December, Italian media reported that in exchange for concessions on allowing Russian military bases in Libya, Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Khalifa Haftar is asking Moscow for guarantees on the succession of his sons to the ‘throne of Benghazi’.
From 26 to 29 December, there were reportedly three flights by super-heavy Russian An-124 cargo planes from Russia’s Hmeimim Airbase in Syria to al-Khadim Airbase in eastern Libya. The flight on 29 December took the long route usually reserved for aircraft carrying cargo Turkey will not allow in its airspace.
On 19 December, Government of National Unity (GNU) PM Abdul Hameed Dabaiba gave a speech in which he strongly rejected the arrival of Russian troops and military equipment from Syria to Libya. He said that any party entering Libya without permission will be fought and that he will not accept Libya becoming an international battlefield. Dabaiba said he had been in touch with the Russian ambassador to Libya to demand an explanation.
On 20 December, Grand Mufti al-Sadiq al-Ghariyani urged all Libyans to unite and fight the Russians fleeing from Syria and arriving in eastern Libya. He said all Libyans must refuse their presence, take up arms and fight them.