Forces loyal to the Libyan renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar
claim foreign mercenaries are being recruited to bolster the air power
of rival fighters in the city of Misrata. Colonel Ahmed Almesmari, of
Haftar's Libyan National Army, said this week that the 11 mercenaries
had entered the city, including "nine jet technicians from Ecuador, one
Ukrainian pilot, one missile expert from Georgia".
A source close to the international mission in Libya, who asked to
remain anonymous, also confirmed this to Middle East Eye. Almesmari told
MEE that the Libyan National Army (LNA) was "not in a stage to comment
further". "In case we decide to announce detailed info, it will be on
our official outlets," he added.
The mercenaries were reported by MEE's source to have entered the cities of Misrata and Mitiga. The hiring of mercenaries would break UN resolutions on arms control in Libya.
Libyan militia building mercenary air force, rivals claim
In effect they are really foreign contractors, other than the pilot. The term mercinaries tends to make people think of ruthless killers for money. Every military has a shortage of good qualified technicians. Using this terminology, just gives ammunition for adverse propaganda. Some "mercs" work only for the money, and some actually believe in the cause, of the side they fight/work for. Bonne chance a les mechs.
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