The French newspaper Le Monde has confirmed that the escape of Russian Wagner Group mercenaries means that Moscow has put an end to its support for the aggression on Tripoli led by warlord Khalifa Haftar since April 2019.
Le Monde said Monday that the return of Wagner Group mercenaries to Russia, which has denied any official links to them, will limit the attacks of Haftar’s terrorist militias amid the growing Turkish support for the Government of National Accord.
“The recapture of Al-Watiya airbase has sped up the breakup of relations between Wagner Group mercenaries, who were fighting on southern Tripoli frontlines of Salah Al-Deen, Qasir Benghashir, and Hamza as well as Yarmouk military camps, and Haftar’s militias.” Le Monde said.
It added that Wagner Group mercenaries fled to Bani Walid town, where they weren’t warmly welcomed and asked by the locals to leave so they don’t plunge their town into a new conflict.
Burkan Al-Ghadab Operation said earlier that the escaping Russian mercenaries who arrived in Bani Walid were between 1500 and 1600 fighters, all of whom were fighting for Haftar’s terrorist militias on south Tripoli frontlines.
The Russian mercenaries allied to Haftar’s terrorist militias retreated with their heavy equipment from the capital to the airport of Bani Walid, a town some 150 km southeast of Tripoli, and according to the mayor of the town, the Russian mercenaries were flown in three military planes to Al-Jufra, adding that their military vehicles were driven there.
On Monday, however; the Libyan Burkan Al-Ghadab Operation under the command of the Government of National Accord said that an Antonov 32 military plane had arrived in Bani Walid Airport to transfer more Russian mercenaries who fled from Tripoli’s frontlines under rapid advances of GNA forces.
