France's admission that it owned sophisticated U.S.-made missiles found at a Libyan base seized from strongman Khalifa Hifter's forces indicates it backs his offensive to seize the capital, the interior minister of Libya's internationally recognized government said.
The Javelin anti-tank missiles were uncovered when government forces retook Gharyan from Hifter in late June, a surprise setback for the eastern commander who'd been using the city as a forward operating base for his campaign to take Tripoli. After wide-ranging speculation over who'd supplied the weapons, France last week acknowledged ownership and said the missiles were left behind by one of its counterterrorism teams and were no longer operational.
Speaking in an interview in the Libyan city of Misrata, Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha disputed France's claim that the missiles were inoperable and said his government has asked experts from the United Nations and U.S. to examine the weapons to confirm they are in working order.