Turkey Destroyed Four More Pantsir ADS Totaling Six Pantsir Destroyed in Libya last month

The Libyan Government of National Unity blew up four Pantsir S1 air defense systems operated by the militia lead by renegade commander Khalifa Belqasim Haftar.

“Our forces managed to destroy four Pantsir-type air defense systems, including three in Tarhuna,” Mohamed Qanunu, a spokesman for the government-led Operation Volcano of Rage, said in a statement. Three other Russian-made anti-aircraft systems were destroyed by the Libyan Army in the recent days totaling six Pantsir-S1 destroyed in Libya.

Al-Watiya Airbase occupied by putschist Haftar forces for six years, was recaptured by the Army on Monday. Libya is now trying to cut off Haftar’s supplies by retaking al-Asaba and Tarhuna city.

Pantsir anti-aircraft systems used in Libya use German-built MAN SX45 Heavy Mobility Truck as the system’s ground mobility and transporter erector launcher (TELAR) platform. “Only the United Arab Emirates uses this configuration for its Pantsir S-1 systems, which was supplied to them after 2011. All other export variants are mounted on: BAZ-6909 8×8, Ural-53234 8×8, KamAZ-6560 8×8, or Asrolog MKZT79230 chassis,” a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) report notes.

Previously, Libyan Army Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Muhammed Kununu announced that 2 Pantsir-S1 HSS, 1 Wing Loong II SIHA, many ammunition and armored vehicles were destroyed in the Vatican Air Ussu, which was occupied by Hafter Teror Orgutu. Russia has supplied Pantsir-S1E to UAE, UAE has transferred the system to Libyan National Army.

?????? Libya Ordusu Sozcusu Yarbay Muhammed Kununu son 24 saat icinde Hafter Teror Orgutu isgalindeki Vatiyye Hava Ussu'nde BAE’nin dun gonderdigi 2 adet Pantsir-S1 HSS, 1 adet Wing Loong II SIHA, cok sayida muhimmat ve zirhli aracin imha edildigini duyurdu. pic.twitter.com/enr88R0t5z

— Turan Oguz (@TyrannosurusRex) May 17, 2020

Oded Berkowitz, an intelligence analyst, claims that Haftar’s forces were armed with Pantsir S1s by the UAE over the last two years.

Pantsir surface-to-air missile systems were provided to Haftar militia by the UAE which received a large number of Pantsir between 2016 and 2020.

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