Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar’s forces said they destroyed a Russian-made transport plane carrying arms for their rivals in the west.
Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army, which has been waging a months-long offensive to take the capital, said it destroyed an Ilyushin 76 plane with a single strike and warned “foreign countries” of arming its rivals, according to a statement published on the pro-LNA Marsad news site. The Libyan conflict has drawn increasing foreign intervention, with Turkey supporting the Tripoli-based government against Haftar, who’s backed by Egypt and the U.A.E.
Both sides have limited military capabilities due to a United Nations arms embargo and rely on foreign attack drones to conduct such strikes. The Tripoli-based government is assisted by Bayraktar drones produced in Turkey and Haftar’s LNA is supported by Chinese-made and U.A.E.-operated Wing Loongs, officials have said.