On May 7 2020, Aydınlık revealed the details of French support and relations between the French Army and the Libyan National Army based on regional sources, showing them to be in violation of international law in Libya. At that time, about 60 French Armed Forces personnel provided training and intelligence support for Haftar.
With the escalation of tensions between Turkey and France over the eastern Mediterranean and Libyan, UWIdata has turned to local sources once again to get a more accurate read on the situation.
MACRON’S CONTROL
Sources recalled that a “Javelin” guided anti-tank missile supplied by the French Air Force was captured by The Government of National Accord (GNA) forces in the city of Garyan, West Libya in 2019. Thus, while the world media has begun to report that the French Army is a direct party to the Libyan civil war, UWI’s sources point out that President Emmanuel Macron is directly handling French intervention in Libya.
PANIC IN PARIS
The arrival of the Turkish Army to Libya at the invitation of the GNA and the subsequent withdrawal of Haftar’s forces caused serious concern in Paris. Paris has bet everything on Haftar’s victory. His defeat has signalled the defeat of French interests in North Africa. According to sources, Macron recently decided to again begin supplying aid to the Libyan National Army.
FRENCH ADVISOR TO CHADIAN MERCENARIES
The French Armed Forces have installed the operations headquarters on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier located 80 km north of the city of Sirte. Sirte is the most critical region in this phase of the Libyan civil war.
On behalf of the operation headquarters, the intelligence planes and UAVs of the French Air Force regularly carry out information gathering in the direction of Libya. In the group of mercenaries (700 persons) from Chad, 12 military personnel of the French foreign legion’s staff were also included as advisors.
A FORWARD AIR CONTROLLER GROUP HAS BEEN SENT
On the other hand, if necessary, a group of forward air controllers were sent to the Sirte region to provide support from the French air force.
According to the information obtained by UWI, the contacts between a group of French consultants deployed at the Benin airport (Benghazi) and the high command of the Libya National Army have significantly intensified. In addition, representatives of the aforementioned operational group also work closely with Egyptian military personnel at Haftar’s headquarters.