Misrata has recruited new mercenaries for its air force

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

My publication in July

This month, I published three articles in August issue of Combat Aircraft Monthly. Foremost, two short items in World News section about the second Iraqi 'Vipers' batch that began test flights and one of the two Libyan Mirage F1ED returned to sevice and finally lost. The major item is a Combat Report on operation 'Breaking Terrorism', the battle for the recovery of Fallujah in the hands of Islamic State since January 2014.

"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 28 May - 3 June 2016

During this week, the GNA Air Force intensified its airstrikes against ISIS positions in Sirte in support of ground troops. It was during one of these air raids that a Mirage F1ED crashed 30 km west of the city of Sirte due to a fuel pump failure. GNA has also lost an air ambulance Mi-8T (serial number '8334') that crashed near Zuwara, west of Tripoli without casualties yesterday.

Libyan Mirage F1ED crashed near Sirte

The GNA (Government of National Accord) Air Force lost one its two Mirage F1EDs in service yesterday evening. The aircraft crashed 30 km west of the city of Sirte due to technical problem (fuel pump failure). The pilot ejected safely and came back to the airbase. One of these aircraft was return to service end of April. The second was waiting for a new engine. The maintenance of the two Mirages was complicated because most of F1 cells left by the former Libyan Air Force were based on al-Watiya airbase captured summer 2014 by the LNA. The Mirage F1 were the spearhead of the former Libya Dawn Air Force and were very involved in the recent bombing in Sirte and Abu Grein. GNA has now only two MiG-23MLDs, one J-21 and a few G-2s and L-39s operational.

Mirage F1ED serial "502" seen at Misrata airbase in April 2016

"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 airstrikes" situation update 23 - 29 April 2016

Following the last situation update, many airstrikes were performed last week by the two Libyan Air Forces. Indeed, the week was characterized by greater communication from the LDAF (Libya Dawn Air Force) about its air strikes and one of its two Mirage F1EDs returned to service. LNA AF (Libyan National Army Air Force) also published new photos of the wreckage of the Mi-14 crashed at Labraq airbase.

Libya Dawn Air Force Mirage F1 returned to service ?

End of afternoon, the noise of an aircraft breaking the sound barrier was heard in the sky of Misrata. According to Misrata Air Academy, this fighter jet was one of the two Mirage F1EDs of Libya Dawn Air Force which has returned to service after having passed the test flight successfully. It is unclear when this Mirage really returned to service. On 17th April, local sources claimed that the two Mirage F1EDs have carried out airstrikes against IS positions in Sirte, but according to other sources close to LDAF, only one aircraft was operational.

"Libyan airstrikes" situation update 16 - 22 April 2016

This week began by the large communication (video and photos) made by the LNA AF about the refurbishing of the two MiG-23BNs (serial number "4136" and "8985") and ended with the lost of one Mi-14 helicopter.

Le Golfe de Syrte : accrochages et combats aériens

Le Golfe de Syrte est bien connu pour les combats aériens Américano-Libyens qui ont eu lieu en 1981 et 1989 et qui ont vu deux Su-22 "Fitter" et deux Mig-23 "Flogger" abattu par les F-14A "Tomcat". A ces "dogfight", il faut ajouter les incidents de 1986 au cours desquels plusieurs patrouilleurs Libyens ont été coulés par les A-6E "Intruder" et A-7E "Corsair II". Mais ces incidents ne sont pas isolés. D'autres accrochages ont eu lieu pendant cette vingtaine d'années de tension.