Libya Thread 2.0

Feanor

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Ok, so events in Libya are heating up. This thread is for all things pertaining to continuing war in Libya, including foreign involvement.

Sirt has falled to Haftar's forces, allegedly due to the betrayal of one of the groups defending it.

Осел груженный золотом зашел в Сирт
Войска Хафтара взяли Сирт

Footage of alleged Russian PMCs in Libya.

Wall

Haftar's forces have captured some of the Khrizantema ATGMs supplied by Russia to the Libyan government. They also captured the command point for Turkish Bayaraktar UAVs recently used by the General National Congress.

В Ливии войска фельдмаршала Хафтара захватили "Хризантему"
Ливийская Национальная Армия захватила командный пункт управления БЛА Bayraktar западнее Сирта

Haftar's forces used a Chinese UAV, the Wing Loong, to strike military college studets in Tripoli, killing 28 and wounding 35.

Поражение китайской управляемой ракетой Blue Arrow 7 с БЛА Wing Loong II группы курсантов в Триполи

A Libyan National Army Pantsyr SAM has shot down a Bayraktar UAV flown by GNC forces. This is at least the second downing in recent days.

https://diana-mihailova.livejournal.com/4357031.html

Turkish EW and air defense troops are arriving in Libya.

https://diana-mihailova.livejournal.com/4363462.html

The Turks have allegedly rebuilt a landing strip in Tripoli to support Turkish operations in Libya.

https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/5533629.html

The parliament of Eastern Libya has voted to cease all cooperation with Turkey.

http://classic.newsru.com/world/04jan2020/libya_parlam.html
 

Feanor

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Update.

A temporary ceasefire has been proposed in Libya, following negotiations between Putin and Erdogan. Putin has also admitted that Russian PMCs "might" be taking part in hostilities in Libya, but has stated that they are not affiliated with the Russian state. Negotiations between Sarandzh from the GNC and Khaftar from the LNA are now taking place in Moscow. We will likely see some de-escalation of hostilities, and there's a good chance that military failures from both sides have contributed to this negotiation. Khaftar has failed to take Tripoli despite a lengthy and coordinated push, while the GNC recently lost Sirt, with some of its own forces turning traitor. It's noteworthy that before this, Khaftar declined a ceasefire.

В Москве начались переговоры по Ливии
Фельдмаршал Хафтар уже в Москве на переговорах с Сарраджем о прекращении огня в Ливии
https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/5554611.html

Turkish troops are reported among the second line of GNC forces near Tripoli.

Турецкие войска на ливийских фронтах
 

Ranger25

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Makes you wonder what Erdogan is up to and how other regional powers such as Egypt will react
 
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Feanor

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Some updates.

So a ceasefire was not signed in Moscow, due to some last minute issues on the part of Khaftar. A conference has taken place in Berlin, as well as bi-lateral Russo-Turkish talks. It's possible that Russia would like to make arrangements similar to the Syrian ones, but in Libya. It will likely be some time before we can see what this means in practice. In the meantime we have a fairly anemic resolution pushing for a political resolution of the crisis.

Берлинским соглашениям нет альтернативы
Российско-турецкие переговоры в Берлине
Конференция по Ливии
Генерал Хафтар покинул Москву, не подписав соглашение о перемирии в Ливии
Улетел не подписав

In the meantime, fighters from Syria are turning up in Libya, likely as Turkish proxies. For Russia and Assad this could be a convenient way to get rid of those fighters, and for Turkey a good way to make use of them, instead of simply having them ground down by Russian airstrikes and the slow SAA offensive.

https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/5566375.html

Some photos of GNC fighters near the fronlines around Tripoli.

https://vk.com/milinfolive?w=wall-123538639_1310024

The LNA has captured some Turkish armored cars in their offensive.

https://vk.com/milinfolive?w=wall-123538639_1309592
 

Feanor

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4 Turkish frigates have been spotted off the coast of Libya, and there are reports that Turkish armor has been offloading in Tripoli.

Эскадра ВМС Турции из четырех фрегатов уже на рейде Триполи
Турция под прикрытием фрегатов своих ВМС начинает поставки в Ливию тяжелой бронетехники

The GNC appears to have shot down a Wing Loong UAV operated by the LNA, near Misrata. The exchange of UAV strikes and UAV shoot-downs is really something. In my opinion it shows how even a relatively low-tech force can maintain relatively sophisticated aerial capabilities.

Триполитанцы сбили под Мисратой БЛА Wing Loong 2 Ливийской национальной армии
 

Feanor

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Turkey is getting involved deeper in Libya.

Turkey has published the names of 3 service member killed in Libya including one major general. Some sources claim as many as 16 have died.

Мученики из Триполи
https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/7822787

GNC forces have shot down a Russian Orlan-10 UAV. This is likely evidence of continued Russian PMC operations.

Wall

Khaftar has declared a no-fly zone over Tripoli, though its unclear that this is much different from what was going on prior. But its part of a pattern, as he has also blocked oil exports from Libya.

https://imp-navigator.livejournal.com/894349.html
https://www.france24.com/en/20200121-us-calls-for-immediate-resumption-of-libya-oil-operations

Turkish AAA has shown up in Tripoli. This step is badly needed considering the continued use of UCAVs by both sides.

https://imp-navigator.livejournal.com/893550.html

Some footage of the cargo the Turks have brought to Tripoli, including IFVs and SP Arty.

https://imp-navigator.livejournal.com/896752.html

The Tripoli airport is now taking artillery fire.

https://www.aa.com.tr/ru/мир/армия-хафтара-обстреляла-аэропорт-триполи-из-установки-град-/1710309

Khaftar's shelling has also hit a warehouse in the port, right next to a Turkish ship. It was initially reported as a strike against the ship itself.

https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/5647125.html
https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/5647125.html
https://diana-mihailova.livejournal.com/4537822.html
https://vk.com/milinfolive?w=wall-123538639_1338317

Ukrainian aircraft appear to be involved in carrying cargo from the UAE to Libya.

https://diana-mihailova.livejournal.com/4510053.html

Khaftar's forces are deploying new-looking Kornet-E ATGMs.

https://diana-mihailova.livejournal.com/4534207.html
 

ngatimozart

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A New York Times article on General Khalifa Belqasim Haftar even if they do spell his name wrong, A Police State With an Islamist Twist: Inside Hifter’s Libya, which means that I wonder what else is incorrect with the article. If the article is half correct, then Hafter is reverting to Ghadaffi style rule which doesn't bode well for the future of Libya. Unfortunately this will be nothing unusual within the region because of European and US interference in the region during the last 3 centuries, In the Middle East, a new military crescent is in the making, but more so in the last 100 years. Now with Erdogan sticking his nose into Libya's affairs on the Tripoli side Turkey's Erdogan confirms sending Syrian fighters to Libya, and Russia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and others supporting Haftar, this is just a continuation of the the old interference with new actors added.

Timeline: Haftar's months-long offensive to seize Tripoli
 

swerve

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... because of European and US interference in the region during the last 3 centuries...
Be fair. Until the 1820s the region had been interfering in western Europe for over 1000 years, & it continued interfering in SE Europe until the 20th century. Why should Europeans not have responded?
 

ngatimozart

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Be fair. Until the 1820s the region had been interfering in western Europe for over 1000 years, & it continued interfering in SE Europe until the 20th century. Why should Europeans not have responded?
Do you really want to argue the historical tit for tats? Where, when, who do you want with? Alexander the Great? The Romans? The Crusades? Or do we include the migrations and invasions from the east as, such as the Mongols, Huns, and Turkomen?
 

swerve

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Errr . . . . you said three centuries. I've not referred to anything that wasn't still going on well into that period, & from much the same peoples.
 

ngatimozart

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Errr . . . . you said three centuries. I've not referred to anything that wasn't still going on well into that period, & from much the same peoples.
Yes I said 3 centuries but you bought up 10 centuries, so you're now arguing semantics old boy.
 

Feanor

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It appears that the Turkish frigates off the coast of Libya fired on and possibly shot down an LNA Wing Loong UAV. The fragments of a Rim-66E missile were found. This happened around April 1st. It appears that the Turks are committed to their involvement in Libya. I can't help but wonder what would happen if Khaftar got a hold of AShMs, and fired on a Turkish frigate.


EDIT: Polish Warmate UAVs have also been spotted in Libya. There are contradictory claims on which side shot it down, and by process of elimination which side was operating it.


Also it appears an LNA An-26 was destroyed by a strike from a Turkish UAV.

 

Feanor

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Update.

Things are moving again in Libya.

GNA forces have captured the al-Vatiya airbase in an operation supported by Turkish air and allegedly naval power. There are also allegations that Syrian fighters formed a large part of the assault force.


A number of Pantsyr systems have been destroyed in Libya (at least 3). Up until now all such systems sighted were of UAE origin, easily identifiable by their chassis, but now we have seen the first Kamaz-chassis Pantsyr. It probably came either from Syria, or directly from Russia. At least one Pantsyr was also captured by the GNA forces in al-Vatiya airbase.

However there are likely more systems still active.


Turkey continues to lose UAVs over Libya. The total numbers are quite high at this point, as many as 28 aircraft by some sources. Though in at least one case the LNA appears to have shot down a friendly Wing Loong. In some cases there are reports of the Turkish UAVs being shot down literally as they're taking off. There's also reports that at least one of the downed UAVs is a Reaper UAV.


The remains of RIM-66 missile have been found in Libya, suggesting that the Turkish frigates off the coast are participating in the air defense, possibly shooting down some of the Wing Loong UAVs.


Despite the losses, air operations continue, quite actively, on both sides. And after a particularly damaging strike against a munitions dump in Tripoli and the Mitiga airport, Turkey has threatened LNA forces with strikes.


Chinese guided artillery shells have been spotted, being used by Khaftar's forces.


There are reports of MiG-29 fighters, with alleged footage of one, as well as Su-24 bombers and Mi-24 attack helos. Some credit Russia with supplying them from Syria, or through Syria, while other sources claim the aircraft came from Belarus. The aircraft could even be Egyptian, they recently purchased shiny new MiG-29M2, far more capable then Russian or Belorussian surplus even if Russia decided to offload their SMTs.

The footage is from al Jufra air base.

There are also reports of some Egyptian Mirage 2000s flying in support of Khaftar's forces out of an Egyptian airbase.


There are claims of Turkish EW being deployed near Tripoli.


Some aerial footage of an alleged Turkish UAV base in Libya.


Camera footage has surfaced, from some Syrian fighters, allegedly mercenaries, who have apparently been brought to Libya from Syria.


The GNA forces continue to lose vehicles in the ground war as well, including some light armor and a Grad MLRS.


There is information about ex-Ukrainian Il-76s being used to transport cargo from to Libya. There have also been flights from Syria to Libya by Russian Il-76s.


A photo of a Turkish frigate in a Libyan port.


Russia and Turkey have issued a joint statement calling for a ceasefire.

 

ngatimozart

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Update.

Things are moving again in Libya.

GNA forces have captured the al-Vatiya airbase in an operation supported by Turkish air and allegedly naval power. There are also allegations that Syrian fighters formed a large part of the assault force.


A number of Pantsyr systems have been destroyed in Libya (at least 3). Up until now all such systems sighted were of UAE origin, easily identifiable by their chassis, but now we have seen the first Kamaz-chassis Pantsyr. It probably came either from Syria, or directly from Russia. At least one Pantsyr was also captured by the GNA forces in al-Vatiya airbase.

However there are likely more systems still active.


Turkey continues to lose UAVs over Libya. The total numbers are quite high at this point, as many as 28 aircraft by some sources. Though in at least one case the LNA appears to have shot down a friendly Wing Loong. In some cases there are reports of the Turkish UAVs being shot down literally as they're taking off. There's also reports that at least one of the downed UAVs is a Reaper UAV.


The remains of RIM-66 missile have been found in Libya, suggesting that the Turkish frigates off the coast are participating in the air defense, possibly shooting down some of the Wing Loong UAVs.


Despite the losses, air operations continue, quite actively, on both sides. And after a particularly damaging strike against a munitions dump in Tripoli and the Mitiga airport, Turkey has threatened LNA forces with strikes.


Chinese guided artillery shells have been spotted, being used by Khaftar's forces.


There are reports of MiG-29 fighters, with alleged footage of one, as well as Su-24 bombers and Mi-24 attack helos. Some credit Russia with supplying them from Syria, or through Syria, while other sources claim the aircraft came from Belarus. The aircraft could even be Egyptian, they recently purchased shiny new MiG-29M2, far more capable then Russian or Belorussian surplus even if Russia decided to offload their SMTs.

The footage is from al Jufra air base.

There are also reports of some Egyptian Mirage 2000s flying in support of Khaftar's forces out of an Egyptian airbase.


There are claims of Turkish EW being deployed near Tripoli.


Some aerial footage of an alleged Turkish UAV base in Libya.


Camera footage has surfaced, from some Syrian fighters, allegedly mercenaries, who have apparently been brought to Libya from Syria.


The GNA forces continue to lose vehicles in the ground war as well, including some light armor and a Grad MLRS.


There is information about ex-Ukrainian Il-76s being used to transport cargo from to Libya. There have also been flights from Syria to Libya by Russian Il-76s.


A photo of a Turkish frigate in a Libyan port.


Russia and Turkey have issued a joint statement calling for a ceasefire.

The Turkish Air Force have the Boeing E-7A AEW&C aircraft, think 4 from memory. I would guesstimate that whilst the aircraft and basic radar are the same as RAAF E-7A Wedgetail they wouldn't be as capable as the Wedgetail. Have the Turkish E-7A been seen operating in the? Libyans theatre yet?
 

Feanor

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The Turkish Air Force have the Boeing E-7A AEW&C aircraft, think 4 from memory. I would guesstimate that whilst the aircraft and basic radar are the same as RAAF E-7A Wedgetail they wouldn't be as capable as the Wedgetail. Have the Turkish E-7A been seen operating in the? Libyans theatre yet?
I haven't heard anything about it. I haven't even seen much on Turkish fighter jets over Libya, just some speculation. It's possible that the goal of the MiG-29 rebasing to Libya is not for ground support but for air defense and, unopposed, they should be able to sweep the Turkish UAVs out of the sky, assuming there are enough of them to cover the air space, and the backend support is there to maintain the op tempo. Especially if they're the shiny, new, and relatively modern MiG-29Ms from Egypt. Actually, given the situation, it's exactly the kind of move that may cause the Turks to mirror the escalation and deploy their own aircraft.
 

ngatimozart

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I haven't heard anything about it. I haven't even seen much on Turkish fighter jets over Libya, just some speculation. It's possible that the goal of the MiG-29 rebasing to Libya is not for ground support but for air defense and, unopposed, they should be able to sweep the Turkish UAVs out of the sky, assuming there are enough of them to cover the air space, and the backend support is there to maintain the op tempo. Especially if they're the shiny, new, and relatively modern MiG-29Ms from Egypt. Actually, given the situation, it's exactly the kind of move that may cause the Turks to mirror the escalation and deploy their own aircraft.
Thanks, and the Egyptians do have a rather large bone to pick with the Turks at the moment as well, so I can see them upping the ante.
 

Feanor

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If they start using the mig-29's to hunt UAV's it wouldn't be hard to lure them into a air defense kill box.
Lure the MiG-29s? Would you mind sharing how that would work? The Turks operate a small number of Hawk SAMs around Tripoli. These are older systems that are not only susceptible to EW, but more importantly whose general characteristics are known. In theory it should be possible for the MiG-29s to lock down the airspace around the Hawk's engagement envelope, thus restricting the UAVs to a known pocket of airspace. Given that we already have reports of Bayraktar TB2s getting shot down while taking off, it appears that current LNA GBAD is within range of that. Combine the MiG-29s scouring the airspace outside and GBAD taking potshots inside the Hawk envelope, it could seriously hamper Turkish UAV ops, especially for larger systems. Of course the Turks could move the Hawks closer to the front line in the hopes of taking a pot shot or ambushing some of the MiG-29s but that means risking the systems and the Turkish service members, as well as taking shots at the limits of the engagement envelope and thus reducing chances of a successful shootdown.

I'm also curious about the MiG-29 variant provided. MiG-29A, B, or S, would be a very limited air defense aircraft with only unguided munitions for ground-attack. MiG-29M from Egypt would be a significantly more capable multirole fighter, capable even of SEAD/DEAD strikes against those Hawks. CAST is currently saying that these are Belorussian MiG-29s that flew over in two batches of 3, with a Russian Airforce Tu-154M as a leader, allegedly purchased by the UAE from Belarus. That would likely make them older MiG-29 variants, possibly with some upgrades. I really want to see what munitions they brought. More information on those questions would clear up a lot about this scenario.


P.S. Belarus allegedly upgraded a small batch of MiG-29s in the early 2000s with improved ground-attack capabilities, turning them into multiroles. This is a very rare MiG-29 variant, it's possible that only a handful were ever done. It would be really interesting if those were the aircraft in question here.
 
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