This archive report was first published on 30 June 2019.
On June 29, 2019, forces allied with Libya's internationally recognized government in Tripoli captured advanced U.S. and Chinese arms, including sophisticated rockets and drones, from forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar.
The capture occurred when Tripoli's forces took control of the town of Gharyan, south of the capital, which had been used as a main supply base by Haftar's forces to attack Tripoli.
According to officials, the seized arms included U.S.-made Javelin anti-tank missiles, advanced Chinese-made laser-guided artillery shells, and combat drones. Inscriptions on the Javelin missiles indicated they had originally belonged to the armed forces of the United Arab Emirates, a key backer of Haftar's Libya National Army (LNA).
U.N. reports have previously stated that the UAE and Egypt have been arming Haftar's LNA since 2014, but details have been unclear.
Israeli security analyst Oded Berkowitz noted that the capture of advanced U.S. systems by a third party may push the U.S. to oppose the UAE and their support for the LNA.
Haftar's assault on Tripoli began on April 4, 2019, catching the United Nations off guard as they prepared for a national conference to try to end the chaos gripping Libya since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
