US-made planes are being used to support a Russian-backed general in Libya

The United Arab Emirates has begun using US-made planes to support a Russian-backed general in Libya, Time reported.

At least six American-made Archangel turboprop planes have been seen in satellite images of an airbase controlled by Russian-backed Gen. Khalifa Haftar, the leader of a faction fighting the US– and UN-backed government in Tripoli, Libya’s capital.

This move by the UAE is also violates a UN embargo that bans all transfers of weapons to Libya unless explicitly granted an exception.

Since former Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi was killed in 2011, the country has fallen into near anarchy. Three governments are currently vying for power in the country, along with several insurgent groups, such as ISIS.

The conflict is further complicated by the fact that Russia, Egypt, and UAE support Haftar’s government, while the US and UN back the Government of National Accord (GNA), led by Fayez al-Sarraj. When Gaddafi was killed in 2011, with the help of US and NATO air raids, Russia lost billions of dollars in arms deals and oil and gas exploration.

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Featured image courtesy of Reuters