Russia boosts Libya’s Haftar with new heavy weapons

Russia is increasing its military support for eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar, delivering heavy weapons, armored vehicles, and air defense systems, according to Russian military blog Militarnyi. The shipments, reportedly arriving via Tobruk and other Haftar-controlled ports, include Pantsir-S1 systems and other advanced hardware. This reflects a strategic shift following Russia’s partial withdrawal from Syria, with Libya emerging as a new hub for Moscow’s military footprint in Africa.

The Maaten al-Sarra airbase, near Libya’s southern border, is also reportedly being upgraded to support broader regional operations. Analysts see the build-up as part of Russia’s effort to expand influence across the Sahel and North Africa, leveraging Haftar’s control in eastern Libya to project power into neighboring states. The move is raising concern in Western capitals over growing instability in Libya and the potential for disruption to NATO’s southern flank.