The U.S. military believes that an unarmed American drone reported lost near Libya’s capital last month was in fact shot down by Russian air defenses and it is demanding the return of the aircraft’s wreckage, U.S. Africa Command says.
Such a shootdown would underscore Moscow’s increasingly muscular role in the energy-rich nation, where Russian mercenaries are reportedly intervening on behalf of east Libya-based commander Khalifa Haftar in Libya’s civil war.
Haftar has sought to take the capital Tripoli, now held by Libya’s internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA).
U.S. Army General Stephen Townsend, who leads Africa command, said he believed the operators of the air defenses at the time “didn’t know it was a U.S. remotely piloted aircraft when they fired on it.”
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WNU Editor: Last month Libya officials said this shot-down was a mistake .... Libyan Officials Say US Drone Shot Down by Mistake (The New York Times).
More News On The U.S. Saying Russian Air Defenses Near The Libyan Capital Shot Down An Unarmed American Drone Last Month
US military says Russian air defenses shot down unarmed drone near Libyan capital: report -- FOX News
US military claims one of its unarmed drones was shot down by Russian air defences near the Libyan capital as it demands the return of wreckage -- Daily Mail
US military believes unarmed drone shot down by Russian defenses near Libyan capital -- The Hill
US military drone ‘shot down by Russian forces in Libya’ -- The Independent
US Military Claims American Drone Was Downed by Russian Air Defences Near Libya Last Month - Report -- Sputnik
US believes Russian air defenses downed its drone in Libya -- Libyan Observer
