The Independent newspaper published a map of an airbase it said was located near the Libyan city of Benghazi which will be transferred to Russia in exchange for arms supply.
According to Western reports, General Khalifa Haftar’s recent visit to Moscow along with his talks with Russian officials revolved around the need to import weapons in return for granting Moscow logistical and military privileges inside the Libyan territories.
Haftar wants to win Moscow’s support and recognition as the sole candidate for the country’s leadership as Russia’s influence in the world and the Middle East is on the rise, Russian Nezavisimaya Gazeta reported.
The newspaper said, Haftar may have submitted an initial list of the required weapons to the Russian Defence Ministry, and won a promise to receive the weapons in case an arms embargo was removed.
Haftar met with Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, and Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov and representatives of the Russian Defence Ministry.
This is the second visit by the General to Moscow this year.
middleeastmonitor.com
