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Middle East and North Africa

Libyan militants have 200 planes at disposal — media

It is unknown for the moment where extremists who are carrying out an armed fight with the governmental forces got this aircraft from

© EPA/MOHAMED MESSARA

CAIRO, November 11. /TASS/. Radical groups in Libya have at their disposal about 200 planes, including fighter jets, The Erem News portal reported.

According to the news portal, the militants’ aircraft fleet is based iin areas under their control in Misurata, Sirt, Sebkha, as well as at the airport in Tripoli, Libya's capital. Among the planes are 170 MiG-21 and MiG-23 fighter jets, 20 Mirage fighter jets, 34 helicopters and 4 transport airplanes.

For the moment, it is unknown where extremists, who are involved in combat with the government forces, got the aircraft. It is possible that the planes date back to the rule of Muammar Gaddafi, the former leader of Jamahiriya who was overthrown in 2011. It is unclear whether the planes are operational.

At the same time, the Libyan authorities have repeatedly stated that Sudan, Turkey and Tunis supply Islamists with weapons. Militants, however, have denied the accusations. Algeria and Tunisia, bordering Libya, have already expressed their concern about extremist groups possessing such equipment. Several countries in the region have already undertaken preventive measures to secure their territory from radical groups’ invasion. In particular, Algerian air defense forces received the order to shoot down any military aircraft intruding the country’s airspace.

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Middle East and North Africa Libya Security

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