US military accused Russia of deploying fighter aircraft to Libya

"U.S. Africa Command assesses that Moscow recently deployed military fighter aircraft to Libya in order to support Russian state-sponsored private military contractors operating on the ground there," the US military's Africa Command said in a statement.

Two US defense officials told CNN there were "several" Russian military aircraft deployed.

Africa Command also released a surveillance photograph which it said showed the Russian aircraft, a MiG-29, in Libya.

The US has long accused Moscow of using Russian mercenaries to bolster its preferred side in Libya's civil war, the forces led by Gen. Khalifa Haftar.

"Russian military aircraft are likely to provide close air support and offensive fires for the Wagner Group PMC that is supporting the Libyan National Army's (LNA) fight against the internationally recognized Government of National Accord," the statement said, saying the aircraft arrived in Libya from Russia via Syria "where it is assessed they were repainted to camouflage their Russian origin."

Haftar's forces have suffered some tactical setbacks in recent days as the UN recognized government in Tripoli has received backing from Turkey, including armed drones, enabling it to push Haftar's troops farther from the capital.

Haftar had recently reportedly pledged to mount a large-scale air campaign to reverse the recent setbacks.

"The world heard Mr. Haftar declare he was about to unleash a new air campaign. That will be Russian mercenary pilots flying Russian-supplied aircraft to bomb Libyans," Gen. Stephen Townsend, the commander of Africa Command said in the statement Tuesday.

The state department said Friday that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with the leader of the Tripoli-based government, Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj " to reiterate U.S. opposition to the continued level of weapons and munitions being brought into the country," according to a State Department spokesperson.