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Russia, Wagner Group hit with stinging loss as Libyan strongman in full retreat

Caravanserai and AFP

A man waves a Libyan national flag as residents celebrate in the capital, Tripoli, on June 4 after the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) said it had retaken full control of the capital and its suburbs from a Russian-backed military strongman. [Mahmud TURKIA/AFP]

A man waves a Libyan national flag as residents celebrate in the capital, Tripoli, on June 4 after the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) said it had retaken full control of the capital and its suburbs from a Russian-backed military strongman. [Mahmud TURKIA/AFP]

TRIPOLI -- Libya's United Nations (UN)-recognised government Friday (June 5) announced another victory in its counter-offensive against eastern-based strongman Khalifa Haftar, overrunning his last western stronghold of Tarhuna, launchpad of an abortive 14-month assault on the capital.

The long string of battlefield reversals in recent weeks and this latest retreat represent a stinging loss to Moscow, which has backed Haftar in its bid to take over the country with the help of Wagner Group mercenaries.

The recapture of the strategic town southeast of the capital capped a week that already saw the Government of National Accord (GNA) re-establish control over the whole of Greater Tripoli, including the abandoned civilian airport on its southern outskirts.

Tarhuna was the main rear base for the devastating offensive against the capital that Haftar's forces finally gave up this week, abandoning their remaining positions in the southern suburbs to advancing government troops.

GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj vowed that his government would impose its control over the whole of Libya.

"Our fight continues, and we are determined to defeat the enemy, impose state control on the whole of the homeland and destroy all those who jeopardise the construction of a civil, democratic and modern state," Sarraj said.

Russian interference

The Wagner Group -- a paramilitary organisation that serves the agenda of Russian President Vladimir Putin -- has been co-ordinating a massive effort to recruit Syrian youths to fight as mercenaries in Libya.

Despite reaching the edge of the Libyan capital in early May, hundreds of Wagner Group mercenaries fled the front lines after being routed by the UN-backed government.

These setbacks come amid reports of a rift between Wagner and Haftar over the non-payment of a $150 million debt because of ineffective 'rookie fighters' sent from Syria. Haftar is refusing to pay Wagner.

Last week, Moscow was caught red-handed sending camouflaged fighter jets to Libya from an air base in Russia, after transiting Syria.

Earlier this week reports emerged saying that Moscow has been flooding Libya with counterfeit currency for more than four years as part of efforts by the Kremlin to back Haftar.

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47 Comment(s)

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Wherever Russia has been there is famine and violence

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Haftar himself didn't want to pay the Russians for their poor fighting skills. They had a conflict because of that. The most capable fighters have all been killed earlier in Ukraine.

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- Grandpa is old. - Oh, are you serious? You aren't old! - No, I'm old, old.

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Russian soldier cannon fodder has always been the cheapest and worst quality on the military market.

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Turkey has a modern army, and its Navy is hundreds of times more powerful than the Russian [Navy]

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The Russians fled Libya so fast that their bast sandals were flying all over the place ))) It's true that those who fled were the ones who survived the Turkish drone attack ))

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))) Russia defeated? You are so naive )) You'll fucking suck an Iskander [Russian missile system] ;)

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Russians are not warriors. They never could fight. They lost every war they waged on their own. They can win a war only if somebody helps them, just like during WWII. You go, Turkey!

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Dude, what are you talking about? Think things through before you say anything.

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From the very beginning

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The Russian punching bags got kicked big time. It's not like bombing schools and hospitals in Syria

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Can you hear yourself?! Russia has never lost. And I guess they posted this intentionally. You are not Russian; it shows, you Ukrainian bag of nothing

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Go, Russia!!! Russia has never lost, and will never lose.

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[in Kyrgyz] Turkey, onward! Never look back!

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The Russian government is evil

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It's high-level politics, but we should go about our business

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The Turks will win

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That is undesirable!

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Russian militants have gotten snared in a Libyan trap

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Why do those who badmouth Russia never remember how the USA BOMBED Libya?! Because they listed all their nicknames on social media when they submitted their green card applications, hoping that Big Brother would read their comments. ))

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You don't have to list social media nicknames when applying for a green card )))

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Russia will win; the Turks have always got beaten up by Russia

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Yeah, it has won already, fleeing like a filthy dog with its tail between its legs

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The Turks punched them in the face. Several much-touted Pantsir missile systems were destroyed by an airstrike )))

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All hail Russia! We are always with you, and never look back!

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Russia is evil, a plague...

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Why does Russia poke its nose in? Everybody is fed up with Russia. Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Syria, Lebanon. Russia did it. The time will come when Russia will pay

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And who are you? Probably a Georgian

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What difference does it make who he is? The most important thing is it's not

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The empire will never simmer down until it collapses. But it will collapse for sure.

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Are you part of the Empire?

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That's right

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Russia knows what paths to take and where to go

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100%

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No way they will be as capable as the Turkish army.

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How many times has Russia beaten up Turkey over the last 200 years?

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It is like this only in Russian textbooks

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What kind of warriors are the Turks? They have been beaten up by Russia since the times of Peter the Great. They gave up Crimea covering their ass, and Russia beat them for the Armenians and Bulgarians. They can neither fight nor build anything, only peddle their wares....

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Isn't he that same Peter who was taken prisoner by the Turks?

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What do you think you're talking about? Russia has never won a war head-on. The TURKS have been ruling people for centuries, while Russia is only 300 years old. I am talking about the empire. Where were you when it was all about swords and courage? Now it's about hiding and shooting from around a corner, and you call that a victory. Okay, let it be like you said. But it's not for long; a rotten country collapses on its own. And the TURKS will be reigning just as they always did, INSHALLAH

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Learn history, dipstick

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A powerful, perfect Turkish army has destroyed Russian toy soldiers

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Give me facts. Don't confuse an army with one crew of mercenaries taken separately, they are mostly Arabs from Middle Eastern countries.

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Your Russia is a piece of crap against Turkey. Are you planning on fighting them with bast sandals and balalaikas?

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You really are a fantastic moron

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The only thing you are interested in is massacring each other. Life taught you nothing. There's only one judge in the world - ALMIGHTY ALLAH ☝️ He will repay each one of us according to our deeds. Wake up, people. You better do some Good!!!

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Kindness is super. Alhamdulillah for everything we have. I have been, and will continue to be, pro-Russian. Russia is a power, and the guarantor of peace on Earth.

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