Islamic State Surges in Libya

But Islamist attacks probably won't compell Libyan rivals to work together

On Aug. 23, 2017, nine soldiers from the Libyan National Army’s 131st Brigade — including its commander Ali Al Ghadbane — were killed at a checkpoint near Al Fugha between Sabha and Zillah in southwestern Libya. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. The last attack by the terrorist group took place in May 2017, targeting a convoy of the Misrata militia’s 3rd Force. Since the end of August 2017, ISIS has stepped up its activity in the Sirte region.

Islamic State Surges in Libya

The Libyan National Army Is Running Out of Air Power

The Libyan National Army Air Force — part of the eastern-based Tobruk regime, one of two competing governments in Libya — lost two fighter-bombers and an experienced pilot in fewer than two weeks. A MiG-21 shot down over the Al Sabri district in Benghazi and a second MiG-21 that crashed near Tobruk after a mission to Derna, killing the commander of Gamal Abdul El Nasser air base.

The LNA/AF, under the command of Gen. Khalifa Haftar, also lost a Mi-35 gunship helicopter that the air arm abandoned at Ras Lanouf air base during a militant attack — and then destroyed.The losses have sharply reduced the LNA/AF’s combat capability as it battles western-based Misrata militants who are determined to hold Libya’s central oil crescent.

The Libyan National Army Is Running Out of Air Power

Russia has provided at least one fighter jet to Libya National Army

By Arnaud Delalande and Wolfgang Pusztai

On Feb. 24, 2017, photographs taken by Libyan National Army Air Force technicians — and which appeared on social media — revealed that Russia appears to have supplied at least one warplane to forces under the command of Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

Haftar’s army, concentrated in eastern Libya and based in Tobruk, is the chief rival of the U.N.-backed Government of National Accord based in the western capital of Tripoli. The 73-year-old marshal, who once lived in exile near the CIA headquarters in Virginia, has received military support from Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, among other countries.

And, as the evidence strongly suggests, Russia as well.

It Looks Like Russia Gave a Fighter Jet to Libya’s Warlord

LNA Air Force has now only one 'Flogger' in its fleet

Today, Libyan National Army Air Force lost its sole MiG-23ML in service, serial number '26453'. According to LNA Spox, the aircraft was shot down and crashed in Ganfouda / Bosnib area in Benghazi. The pilot, Colonel Younes Aldinạli, ejected, but suffered of a broken ankle on the left foot and some bruises. MiG-23ML '26453' entered in service in February 2016 soon after the lost of three others 'Flogger' in two months. Two MiG-23BNs were added to the fleet in April and May, but serial '8985 crashed on 6 July.

"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 19 - 30 September 2016

Two major events can be noticed during this period : the loss of Libyan National Army Air Force (LNA / AF) Mi-8T serial number '1432' (with three crew members and three passenger killed) and the death of civilian in an airstrike near al Jufrah by unidentified aircrafts.

"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 1 - 18 September 2016

The first two weeks of September saw an increassing use of cluster bombs by Libyan National Army Air Force in Benghazi and the Oil Crescent which was captured between 11 and 13. No airstrikes were reported by Misrata Operation Room which is still supported by US bombings since 1st August. 

Libyan MiG-23ML has dropped two RBK-250s cluster bombs in Oil Crescend area today

Since the seize of oil terminal headquarters of the Oil Crescent between Saturday and Monday and Sidra and Ras Lanuf oil terminal towns from the central region’s Petroleum Facilities Guards (PFG), the Libyan National Army Air Force (LNA/AF) engaged its fighter jets for armed reconnaissance sortie in support of the ground forces to secure the oil area. This morning, the MiG-23ML serial '26453' was engaged in such missions in Brega, Ras Lanuf, Sidra and south of the ground forces after the port of Sidra. The aircraft was loaded with two SAMP French made bombs and two RBK-250s cluster bombs. Such munition were already used on Mi-8Ts the last weekend and on MiG-21s in Mid-August.

Libyan National Army still loads its Mi-8s with cluster bombs

New photos published last weekend confirmed that the Libyan National Army  Air Force (LNA/AF) still uses cluster bombs. The photos below show one Mi-8T helicopter loaded with a RBK-250 under the right stub wing on Saturday, September 10, evening. The same night, LNA/AF media confirmed that one of its Mi-8s carried out air strike near the Acyl resort targeting supposed concentrations of IS and armed allied militias. This is the seventh time that the use of cluster munitions is reported in Libya.

"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 10 - 31 August 2016

Following the death of commander of Misrata Air Force, Brigadier General Mukhtar Fakroun and Colonel Omar Dogha, in the crash of their L-39 near university of Sirte on 10th August, Air Force emergency operations room has commissioned pilot Mohammed Umesh as spokesman on 15th. Very few activities were reported by aircraft affiliated to GNA (Government of National Accord).

"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 21 July - 10 August 2016

This period was caracterized by the 'official' engagement of US aircrafts in the battle of Sirte on 1st August and the death of commander of Misrata Air Force, Brigadier General Mukhtar Fakroun and Colonel Omar Dogha, in the crash of their L-39 near university of Sirte and claimed shot down by IS on 10 August.

"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 9 - 20 July 2016

This period was characterized by the lost of one LNA AF Mi-17 from al-Abraq air base on 17th July killing three crew members (pilot Capt Omar Drissi, co-pilot Boubacar Omar al-Hassi and air engineer Fathi Warfali. The Sherkasi’s DBB (Defend Benghazi Brigades) Militia (also named Saraya Defend Benghazi or SDB) claimed to have down a Mi-35 'Hind' with a SA-7, but pictures of the wreckage published on the social media show clearly a Mi-17.

"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 2 - 8 July 2016

Very little communication on air strikes this week from GNA affiliated Air Force, but many were performed each day. The main information from the LNA Air Force side, is the lost of one of its two MiG-23BNs (probably serial number '4136') and especially one of its most experienced pilots, colonel Idriss Al Obeidi well known for his low pass onboard Floggers.

"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 25 June - 1 July 2016

Two events are worth noting this week. The first is a temporary ceasefire agreement between MSCD and LNA signed by General Haftar, Agila Saleh and facilitator Basit Igtet on 27th June. The second was the overflying of Benghazi by a unidentified MQ-9 Reaper armed drone on 29th.

"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 18 - 24 June 2016

No information was provided by GNA AF this week. Only two photos taken by BBC correspondent, Quentin Sommerville, currently in Sirte, showing one of the two MiG-23MLD and one S100 Camcopter belonging to GNA in the sky of the city.

"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 14 - 20 May 2016

On 16th May 2016, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council expressed their willingness to discontinue the arms embargo in favor of the Government of National Accord (GNA) to fight IS (Isalmic State). The next day, GNA through the Deputy Prime Minister Musa al-Kony has asked for planes and helicopters. This embargo is in effect since the beginning of the Libyan uprising via resolution 1970 adopted by the Security Council on 26th February  2011. It covers the arms and related material of all types - weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, equipment paramilitary and related spare parts (an exclusion applies to non-lethal equipment, technical assistance, training or financial support for the government of Libya through resolution 2009 of 16th September 2011 and the resolution of 2095 of 14th March 2013).

"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 7 - 13 May 2016

The situation update of this week is characterized by multiple events. Airstrikes were very intense in Benghazi, Derna by LNA AF (Libyan National Army Air Force) and in Abu Grein area by LDAF (Libya Dawn Air Force). In addition, the first images of new MiG-23 being refurbished appeared.

New MiG-23s for LNA AF

After the commissioning of one MiG-23ML and two MiG-23BNs the last months, mechanicians and engineers started working on MiG-23UB serial number '8008' and MiG-23BN serial number '9119'. This aircraft has no refueling probe contrary to MiG-23BNs serial '4136' and '8985'.

"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 30 April - 6 May 2016

This week, aerial operations were characterized by two majors events : the first flights of the two MiG-23BNs refurbished by engineers and mechanicians of the LNA (Libyan National Army) Air Force and the bombing by LD (Libya Dawn) Air Force MiG-23MLDs of LNA forces near Zillah.

Libyan National Army Air Force has now two MiG-23BNs operational

After the first flight of MiG-23BN serial number "8985" performed on 30th April, it is the turn of the serial number "4136" to fly for the first time on 4th May in the sky after ten years of storage. The refurbishing of these two aircrafts, which must be added the MiG-23ML serial number "26453", allows the LNA AF to regain the number of Flogger equivalent at the end of last year before losing its entire fleet in a month and a half.

Video of Libyan MiG-23BN serial "8985" being refurbished

One weeks ago, the first photo of a former Libyan Air Force MiG-23BN being refurbished was published by this blog. Two of these "Flogger" equipped with refueling probe were stored since Libyan uprising in 2011 : serial numbers "4136" and "8985". "4136" was already seen with FLAF roundels and stored in a hangar contrary to "8985" which was stored outside. So, we could imagine that this MiG-23BN being renoved was "4136". Finally the video below show us this is serial "8985".

MiG-23BNs serial "4136" stored in a hangar with FLAF roundels and serial "8985" stored outside with green roundels of former LARAF

"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 9 - 15 April 2016

During the past seven days, air operations have intensified compared to previous week. In the early morning hours of 9th April, Libyan National Army Air Force fighter jets carried out sorties with high accuracy on terrorist groups holed up inside the University of Benghazi and Nowruz resort. They also performed airstrikes in the vicinity of the cement plant and Souk El Hout.