Libya
France’s Defense Ministry acknowledged Wednesday that U.S.-made missiles captured from the self-styled Libyan National Army belonged to the French military.
A statement said the missiles were originally intended to protect French anti-terrorism forces in Libya and so did not violate an arms embargo.
It said they were damaged and no longer operational, and were put into storage for destruction.
The revelation risks being highly embarrassing for France, which has offered support for LNA leader Khalifa Hafter. Hafter controls much of eastern Libya and is fighting militias in Tripoli loosely allied to a weak, U.N.-backed government.
Pro-government fighters seized the FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles, UAE-made Yabhon drones, and Russia-made Kornet anti-tank guided missiles in June.
France denied transferring the missiles to Hafter’s forces and said the Americans had been informed.
AP
01:55
US contractors say colleagues fired live ammunition at Palestinians seeking food
02:07
Anxiety grips Haitian community in United States over termination of protected status
01:16
Sean 'Diddy' Combs found guilty on two counts, escapes prison for life
01:12
Medgar Evers remembered as political violence rises in America
02:22
Cameroonian marine conservationists trained as scientific divers
01:26
Iran says IAEA inspectors cannot visit its bombed nuclear sites