CAIRO (AP) — The U.S. military has accused Russia of deploying fighter planes to conflict-stricken Libya to support Russian mercenaries aiding east-based forces in their offensive on the capital, Tripoli. In a strongly worded statement, the U.S. Africa Command said the Russian military aircraft arrived in Libya from an airbase in Russia via Syria, where they were repainted to hide their Russian origin. There was no immediate comment from Moscow. U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander, of the U.S. Africa Command says: “For too long, Russia has denied the full extent of its involvement in the ongoing Libyan conflict. Well, there is no denying it now.”
