Leaders of influential armed movements in Libya and Yemen have appealed for Russian intervention to solve the crises that have ravaged their respective countries in the wake of a regional uprising years ago.
The spokesperson for the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army, which is led by General Khalifa Haftar and represents one of two rival factions attempting to claim control of the country, said Wednesday that Russian support was needed to better equip his forces and help establish a unified national government. Under longtime leader Muammar al-Qaddafi, Libya and Russia enjoyed a strong military relationship, but
this fell out after a West-backed 2011 insurgency and a subsequent international ban on selling arms to the Libyan armed forces.
In a statement sent to