The United States military accused the Russian government of deploying military fighter aircraft to Libya in order to support Russian state-sponsored private military contractors operating on the ground.

According to the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), Russian military aircraft are likely to provide close air support and offensive fires for the Wagner Group PMC, which it said is supporting the Libyan National Army's (LNA) fight against the United Nations-backed Government of National Accord.

The Wagner Group is a secretive group of Russian mercenaries in Africa and the Middle East. Russia has denied any involvement with the paramilitary organization.

A confidential United Nations report seen by Reuters said that up to 1,200 people had been deployed by Wagner Group in Libya, strengthening the forces of eastern-based military leader Khalifa Haftar.

AFRICOM noted that the Russian fighter aircraft arrived in Libya, from an airbase in Russia, after passing through Syria where it is determined that they were repainted to disguise their Russian origin.

"Russia is clearly trying to tip the scales in its favor in Libya. Just like I saw them doing in Syria, they are expanding their military footprint in Africa using government-supported mercenary groups like Wagner,”AFRICOM commander U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend said.

AFRICOM accused Russia of prolonging the Libyan conflict and worsening casualties and human suffering on both sides through its military actions. This suffering includes exacerbating the regional instability that has driven the migration crisis affecting Europe.

"The world heard Mr. Haftar declare he was about to unleash a new air campaign. That will be Russian mercenary pilots flying Russian-supplied aircraft to bomb Libyans,”Townsend said.

AFRICOM further accused Russia of working to achieve its own strategic goals rather than being interested in what is best for the Libyan people.

Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) launched a military campaign in early April last year to take over the capital Tripoli where the UN-backed government is based.

A series of successful military campaigns by the LNA brought the east and much of southern Libya under Haftar's control but taking the capital has proved to be a challenge.

The African Union (AU) has previously called for an end to external interference and enforcement of United Nations arms embargo on war-torn Libya. Russia has also appealed for the need to avoid outside interference so as to create the conditions for a settlement in Libya.

Libya has been plagued by insecurity, chaos and political division since former leader Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011 by a NATO-backed uprising.

Source(s) Africom, Reuters