09 June 2020•Update: 09 June 2020
TRIPOLI, Libya
A video footage released by the Libyan army showed military officers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) training forces loyal to eastern warlord Khalifa Haftar in Libya to use Russian-made air defense systems.
The 3-minute clip shows the officers guiding Haftar's fighters on how to use Pantsir-S1 air defense systems.
"The footage proves…that Emirati officers were supervising the air defense systems and drones to strike Tripoli and Libyans," the Libyan army said in a statement.
In December, the government-led Operation Volcano of Rage released confessions of a pro-Haftar officer, who admitted that the UAE was supervising the warlord's air defense systems.
The Libyan army has made significant military gains against Haftar's militias in recent days, capturing the town of Wadi Wishka and two other areas south of Sirte.
On Saturday, the army launched a military operation to liberate cities of eastern and central Libya from Haftar's militias, one day after capturing the strategic city of Tarhuna -- the last stronghold of Haftar in western Libya.
Libya's internationally recognized government has been under attack by Haftar's forces since April 2019, with more than 1,000 killed in the violence.
*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara
