US Special Forces arrive at Libyan Air Base, are promptly kicked out
28 replies, posted
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[QUOTE]A secret US commando mission to Libya has been revealed after photographs of a special forces unit were [URL="https://www.facebook.com/libyan.air.forces/"]posted on the Facebook page[/URL] of the country’s air force.
Libya’s air force said 20 US soldiers arrived at Libya’s Wattiya airbase on Monday, but left soon after local commanders asked them to go because they had no permission to be at the base. It was unclear if another branch of the Libyan military had authorized the mission.
Pentagon sources [URL="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u-s-special-operations-forces-ordered-leave-libya-after-apparent-n481841"]confirmed to US media[/URL] that the special forces unit was part of a mission sent this week, but it was unclear if the soldiers had left the country.
The Facebook post that revealed the unit’s presence said the 20 soldiers had disembarked “in combat readiness wearing bullet proof jackets, advanced weapons”.
The photographs show the Americans – three with assault rifles slung over their shoulders – posing in the sunshine with Libyan soldiers. Other photographs show the US troops boarding a blue and white-striped passenger plane and driving a yellow dune buggy.
Wattiya’s proximity to Sabratha, site of the Islamic State’s western [URL="http://www.theguardian.com/world/libya"]Libya[/URL] base, has heightened speculation that the US is poised to launch strikes on the terror group.
The incident marks the first confirmed deployment of American special forces to Libya since July last year, when [URL="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/17/us-captures-libyan-suspect-benghazi-attack"]Delta Force commandos seized Ahmed Abu Khattala[/URL], now on trial in New York accused of the 2012 killing US ambassador Chris Stevens.
“They were there, [local commanders] said they were on a training mission,” said one source in the nearby mountain town of Zintan. “Nobody knows details. They are gone now.”
Wattiya is one of the largest air bases in Libya, dating from the era of Muammar Gaddafi who was deposed in the 2011 revolution.
Only open desert separates it from the Isis base at Ajaylat, outside Sabratha, the base that Tunisia says [URL="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/06/warplanes-libya-next-battlefront-isis-nato"]trained Sousse beach gunman[/URL] Seifeddine Rezgui Yacoubi.
Libya has been split between two rival governments since Libya Dawn, a coalition of Islamist and Misratan forces, seized Tripoli, and [URL="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/27/libya-dawn-civil-war-tripoli-tobruk"]the elected government fled[/URL] to the eastern city of Tobruk.
The US’s deployment to Wattiya may affect the civil war, because the base is the hub for operations by the recognised government, based in Tobruk, against forces of rival Libya Dawn, which holds Tripoli.
Libyan jets based there have staged airstrikes against Dawn forces, who have launched unsuccessful offensives to capture the sprawling base.
In recent weeks, French and US reconnaissance flights have flown over Sabratha and Isis bases further east at Sirte, Benghazi and Derna.
Western diplomats are concerned that while Libya’s rival governments fighting each other, Isis is advancing without serious opposition. This week Isis units briefly occupied Sabratha itself, triggering fears the town’s noted Roman ruins would be targeted. In eastern Libya, the group is closing in on the country’s key oil ports.
A new UN-brokered unity government, [URL="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/17/libyan-politicians-sign-un-peace-deal-unify-rival-governments"]announced on Thursday[/URL], is expected to issue a formal invitation for British, French and US forces to strike Isis in the coming days.
A Pentagon statement confirmed US forces were at the base. A spokeswoman said: [B]“With the concurrence of Libyan officials, [URL="http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-military"]US military[/URL] personnel traveled to Libya on 14 December to engage in a dialogue with ‎representatives of the Libyan National Army. While in Libya, members of a local militia demanded that the US personnel depart. In an effort to avoid conflict, they did leave, without incident.”[/B]
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[URL]http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/17/secret-us-mission-in-libya-revealed-after-air-force-posted-pictures?CMP=share_btn_tw[/URL]
[URL]https://www.facebook.com/libyan.air.forces/[/URL]
WOw nice fuck up
Not blurring the faces? That's not nice
did they perform a midnight raid on a GAP store on their way to libya
fucking noobs
Interesting to get a look at how Spec Ops/Black Ops operate. Though, if they were authorized by another branch to land and participate, you'd expect them to pass quietly; And if it truly was a Black Ops in Libya or surrounding countries, they'd be detained or such. Story just seems kinda off, have a feeling it might have landed, they finished their mission and then a civvie or rookie photograped them leaving.
[QUOTE=Cutthecrap;49351406]WOw nice fuck up
Not blurring the faces? That's not nice[/QUOTE]
Its Libya. They dont give a shit.
Looks like contractors to me..
They look like some sort of American militia group out in the midwest over some form of group that just came back from a mission.
[QUOTE=arthuro12;49351570]Looks like contractors to me..[/QUOTE]
SOF guys are known to avoid wearing uniforms when traveling.
[QUOTE=Apache249;49351616]SOF guys are known to avoid wearing uniforms when traveling.[/QUOTE]
Most people avoid wearing uniforms while traveling to avoid being targeted. Those who do wear uniforms during travel are probably boots, in the Army, or both.
[QUOTE=InvaderNouga;49351643]Most people avoid wearing uniforms while traveling to avoid being targeted. Those who do wear uniforms during travel are probably boots, in the Army, or both.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Apache249;49351616]SOF guys are known to avoid wearing uniforms when traveling.[/QUOTE]
it is not possible to look more american than these dudes
[QUOTE=Kommodore;49351855]it is not possible to look more american than these dudes[/QUOTE]
Because all Americans are soldiers.
in the maghreb they might as well be
[editline]19th December 2015[/editline]
i mean in libya
with guns
cmon
[QUOTE=Sharker;49351872]Because all Americans are soldiers.[/QUOTE]
Maybe he means how badly dressed they are
[QUOTE=Kommodore;49351855]it is not possible to look more american than these dudes[/QUOTE]
The point is, you can't tell what unit they're a part of. They could be Army, Navy, maybe a few CIA guys or something else entirely.
wait, which Libyan faction is this?
[QUOTE=JoeSkylynx;49351574]They look like some sort of American militia group out in the midwest over some form of group that just came back from a mission.[/QUOTE]
add in a chest rig and they'd look pretty operator to me
With that kind of getup for black ops, Snake would roll in his grave
[QUOTE=Apache249;49352227]The point is, you can't tell what unit they're a part of. They could be Army, Navy, maybe a few CIA guys or something else entirely.[/QUOTE]
If I had to guess, they're probably an Army Special Forces ODA that may have some CIA guys or support staff with them. Foreign internal defense is one of the Green Berets' primary missions so they were probably there to train "friendly" Libyan forces. They're using M4A1s with the SOPMOD Block II kit, which is typically used by "lower tier" Special Operations Forces like the Special Forces, Rangers, Navy SEALs, MARSOC/Marine Raiders, Parajumpers, etc. Units like Delta Force and DEVGRU/Seal Team Six use HK416s
[QUOTE=Complifusedv2;49352010]Maybe he means how badly dressed they are[/QUOTE]
They're special forces, not H&M models..
[QUOTE=srobins;49353457]They're special forces, not H&M models..[/QUOTE]
They won't hold a candle against Fashionable Fahrook!
[QUOTE=Kommodore;49351428]did they perform a midnight raid on a GAP store on their way to libya[/QUOTE]
It's a well known (by me) fact that special ops are the perfect black Friday shoppers, they infiltrate the stores, secure the deals and exit all while facing determined foes like cafene crazed mothers
northface is p much the callsign of cia guys now
They look like a group of friends in a sitcom geared up for a day hike that's going to lead to them getting lost because they don't get cell reception in the woods
TIL I have the same fashion sense that our Special Operators do.
I mean look at those plaid and button up shirts? looks like my fucking closet.
[QUOTE=ScoutKing;49359047]TIL I have the same fashion sense that our Special Operators do.
I mean look at those plaid and button up shirts? [B]looks like my fucking closet.[/B][/QUOTE]
It was your closet.
[U][I]Was.[/I][/U]
[sp]Leave no trace, receipts or otherwise. [/sp]
[QUOTE=TheMrFailz;49359201]It was your closet.
[U][I]Was.[/I][/U]
[sp]Leave no trace, receipts or otherwise. [/sp][/QUOTE]
wardrobe is to be procured on site
