US aerial reconnaissance has noticed Russian transport aircraft and also a large drone at an airbase in western Egypt, close to the Libya. It is not clear if the Russian personnel and equipment are military or contractors, but US officials believe it's part of the growing signs that Russia is meddling in Libya. There was some open discussion of this at the Senate Armed Services Committee last week.
General Thomas D. Waldhauser stated that Russia is trying to influence on the decision of who becomes in charge of the government in Libya. Senator Lindsey Graham asked if Russians are trying to do in Libya what they have been doing in Syria, General Waldhauser answered affirmatively. CNN spoke to officials in Egypt about a report related with the placement of special forces and drones in Egypt near the Libyan border.
An Egyptian military stated that this issue is a matter of sovereignty. He added that Egypt's military has hosted many rounds of talks for Libyan officials and members of parliament. The purpose of these talks is improve the political situation.
Russians official states he knows nothing
Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, was asked about drones in western Egypt. He said that he knows nothing about it. When asked about special forces in Egypt near the border with Libya, he also answered that he has no knowledge about it. Five years after the fall of Moammar Gadhafi, there are three governments that vie for power in Libya.
There are many tribes that compete for power and a slice of Libya's shrinking oil wealth. ISIS has gained a foothold in some areas. The United Nations hastened in a Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) to promote peace and stability. The GNA competes with the Muslim-dominated General National Congress in Tripoli, and with the previous internationally recognized government, the Council of Deputies.
