Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


US Official: US Concerned as Libyan Conflict Turns Bloodier With Russian
Mercenaries

Reuters

   WASHINGTON - The United States is "very concerned" about the
   intensification of the conflict in Libya, with a rising number of
   reported Russian mercenaries supporting Khalifa Haftar's forces on the
   ground turning the conflict into a bloodier one, a senior State
   Department official said on Saturday.

   The United States continues to recognize the Government of National
   Accord (GNA) led by Fayez al-Serraj, the official said, but added that
   Washington is not taking sides in the conflict and is talking to all
   stakeholders who could be influential in trying to forge an agreement.

   "We are very concerned about the military intensification," the
   official told Reuters. "We see the Russians using hybrid warfare, using
   drones and aircraft...This isn't good."

   "With the increased numbers of reported Wagner forces and mercenaries
   on the ground, we think it's changing the landscape of the conflict and
   intensifying it," said the official, who spoke on the condition of
   anonymity, referring to a shadowy group of mercenaries known as Wagner.

   Years-long rivalry

   Libya has been divided since 2014 into rival military and political
   camps based in the capital Tripoli and the east. Serraj's government is
   in conflict with forces led by Khalifa Haftar based in eastern Libya.

   Haftar is backed by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and most recently
   Russian mercenaries, according to diplomats and Tripoli officials. The
   issue has come up in a meeting earlier this month between U.S.
   Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his Russian counterpart Sergey
   Lavrov.

   Pompeo said there could be no military solution to the fighting and
   that Washington had warned countries against sending weapons to Libya,
   adding that he reminded Lavrov
   specifically of the U.N. arms embargo on Libya.

.