RFE
05 Aug 2020, 11:45 GMT+10
WASHINGTON -- The United States has said it is "deeply troubled" by growing violence in Libya and called on foreign powers to end their proxy war in the troubled North African nation.
"We strongly oppose foreign military involvement, including the use of mercenaries and private military contractors, by all sides" in Libya, White House national-security adviser Robert O'Brien said in a statement on August 4.
The U.S. military has accused Moscow of supplying Russian mercenaries and military hardware to Libya in an attempt to gain a foothold in the North African country.
The Pentagon has said that Russia is using the Vagner Group, a private Russia paramilitary organization believed to be close to the Kremlin, as a 'proxy" in Libya to establish a long-term presence on the Mediterranean Sea.
Russia has been helping Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) in the east of the country in its fight against the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) based in the capital, Tripoli.
France, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates also back Haftar's forces.
Turkey, which has deployed troops, drones, and Syrian rebel mercenaries to Libya, supports the government in Tripoli, alongside Qatar and Italy.
Ankara's intervention in Libya in January turned the tide of the war by rolling back Haftar's offensive against Tripoli.
O'Brien said President Donald Trump has spoken with "several" world leaders over the past few weeks to discuss the deteriorating situation in Libya.
O'Brien said the action of foreign powers in Libya poses "grave threats to regional stability and global commerce."
The United States is calling on foreign powers to allow Libya's National Oil Corporation, the nation's main source of revenue, to resume its work.
Oil is being illegally exported from the country, depriving the struggling government of cash to repair its economy.
The United States is also calling for a cease-fire and for countries to respect a UN arms embargo.
Libya has been torn by civil war since a NATO-backed popular uprising ousted and killed the country's longtime dictator, Colonel Muammar Qaddafi, in 2011.
Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Republished with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036
Get a daily dose of Kenya Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Kenya Star.
More InformationBirmingham [UK], July 7 (ANI): Indian pacer Akash Deep mesmerised one and all with a ten-wicket haul in a critic-silencing, era-defining...
(Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images) Bo Bichette homered, Kevin Gausman struck out nine in 5 2/3 innings and the Toronto Blue...
The groups combined GDP is $20 trillion greater than that of the Western bloc, the Russian president has said BRICS has already outstripped...
MORONI, 6th July, 2025 (WAM) -- Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, participated on behalf of President His Highness...
Bulawayo [Zimbabwe], July 6 (ANI): South Africa's Wiaan Mulder produced a historic knock on his Test captaincy debut, scoring an unbeaten...
Rio de Janeiro [Brazil], July 6 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the 17th BRICS Summit on Sunday, underscored...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: With just weeks to spare before a potential government default, U.S. lawmakers passed a sweeping tax and spending...
VILNIUS, Lithuania – A growing body of research suggests that selectively restricting a single nutrient in our diet could have profound...
The groups combined GDP is $20 trillion greater than that of the Western bloc, the Russian president has said BRICS has already outstripped...
The group's combined GDP is $20 trillion greater than that of the Western bloc, the Russian president has said ...
The summit declaration denounced the recent terrorist attack in Kashmir that triggered a military escalation between India and Pakistan...
Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], July 6 (ANI): Former Union Cabinet Minister and senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday...