Moscow is looking to increase its presence in crisis - prone Libya , which still lacks an effective government , as it seeks to grow its footprint across the Middle East , according to the Jamestown Foundation . The DC - based intelligence institute said that Russian officials have been cultivating relations with the most powerful warlord in eastern Libya and former US citizen , General Khalifa Haftar , who is also supported by turkey . This week , 22 Russian special forces equipped with drones were deployed on the Libyan border with Egypt . The deployment could be interpreted as the first phase of a Russian offensive in support of Haftar .
Moscow is looking to increase its presence in crisis-ridden Libya, which still lacks an effective government, as it seeks to grow its footprint across the Middle East, according to the Jamestown Foundation. The DC-based research institute said that Russian officials have been cultivating relations with the most powerful warlord in eastern Libya and former US citizen, General Khalifa Haftar, who is also supported by Egypt. This week, 22 Russian special forces equipped with drones were seen on the Libyan border with Egypt. The deployment could be interpreted as the first phase of a Russian engagement in support of Haftar.