National security adviser Robert O’Brien says the United States “strongly” opposes “foreign military involvement” in Libya without naming who he believes is to blame for the conflict.
In a statement issued by the White House on Tuesday, O’Brien suggested that there was blame to be had “by all sides.”
The people of Libya have been locked in conflict for some time now as dueling factions try to establish control in the fledgling nation.
In 2015, the United Nations helped to establish the Government of National Accord to be the country’s government. The accord has received significant military aid from Turkey, Italy, and Qatar. The other primary force is the Libyan National Army, which is led by Khalifa Haftar, who in 1969 helped Muammar Qaddafi seize power in the nation. The accord is backed by Egypt, France, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia.
The Wagner Group, an organization of Russian mercenaries with increasingly clear ties to the Kremlin, has been on the ground in Libya, adding to the conflict.
“Russia continues to play an unhelpful role in Libya by delivering supplies and equipment to the Wagner group,” the director of U.S. Africa Command, Gen. Bradford Gering, said several days ago.
The AFRICOM director of public affairs said in a tweet posted on July 24, “Russian involvement is evident, which the Kremlin lies about every time they deny it.” AFRICOM also reported that photographic evidence shows the Wagner Group “indiscriminately placed booby traps and minefields” around Libya’s capital city of Tripoli.
“Wagner Group’s reckless use of landmines and booby traps are harming innocent civilians,” said Rear Adm. Heidi Berg, AFRICOM’s director of intelligence.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the White House for comment but did not immediately hear back.
