Libya conflict: France air-dropped arms to rebels

[Gerald]

France has air-dropped weapons to rebels fighting Col Muammar Gaddafi's troops in Western Libya, the French military has confirmed.

Light arms and ammunition were sent to Berber tribal fighters in the Nafusa mountains in early June, it said.


Libyan rebels have been making military gains in the west of the country.

Earlier, a report in Le Figaro newspaper said the arms included rocket launchers and anti-tank missiles.

France, a leading force in the Nato operation in Libya, did not inform its allies about the move, Le Figaro said.

"We began by dropping humanitarian aid: food, water and medical supplies," said Col Thierry Burkhard, spokesman for the French general staff.

"During the operation, the situation for the civilians on the ground worsened. We dropped arms and means of self-defence, mainly ammunition," he told AFP.

He said the arms were "light infantry weapons of the rifle type", dropped over a period of several days "so that civilians would not be massacred".

The BBC's Christian Fraser in Paris says the statement is likely to bring further criticism from the likes of Russia and China, who believe Nato and its allies have already gone beyond the remit of the UN resolution authorising international military action in Libya for the protection of civilians.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13955751

Note: 29 June 2011 Last updated at 14:21 GMT

[Herr-Berbunch]

Good.

I'm glad somebody finally has, and I'm glad it's also not coming out of my pocket!

[Gerald]

Giving weapons to the rebels,have been quite controversial in some countries, and even within parts of the NATO.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

Good.

I'm glad somebody finally has, and I'm glad it's also not coming out of my pocket!

Too bloody right!!

Light arms and ammunition

Better than nothing I suspect...but only just.

[Gerald]

[Castout]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Too bloody right!!



Better than nothing I suspect...but only just.

Absolutely better than nothing at all. Glad they did that.

The rebels have taken some armors(saw a T-55 and a ZSU SPAA on TV) from an arms depot they won near Zintan in the west as well as tonnes of ammunition and weapons before being pushed back later by Gaddafi forces.

[Skybird]

Anyone willing to bet against me that some of these weapons sooner or later will be pointed and fired at Western troops, and will be used in the supression of opposition to orthodox Islamic agendas, and will be traded like cheese or carpets - in Lybia, and/or outside Lybia?

But I guess I must already be happy that they did not deliver any hightech weapons, or mustn't I? Like the French selling most modern Milan ATGMs, amongst other most modern military equipement, to the bad man Gaddafi himself in the recent two years?

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Anyone willing to bet against me that some of these weapons sooner or later will be pointed and fired at Western troops, and will be used in the supression of opposition to orthodox Islamic agendas, and will be traded like cheese or carpets - in Lybia, and/or outside Lybia?

But I guess I must already be happy that they did not deliver any hightech weapons, or mustn't I? Like the French selling most modern Milan ATGMs, amongst other most modern military equipement, to the bad man Gaddafi himself in the recent two years?

I wouldn't bet against you on this. In my opinion things are little bit too "oddly" in Middle East and North Africa to predict future.

Two of topic questions for you Skybird:
- I have quite often (like in your post) Libya written as Lybia. Is this how you write the name in German language?
- I like your Dr. House quote. Can I copy it to my own sig?

[the_tyrant]

Isn't there an arms embargo or something?

- I like your Dr. House quote. Can I copy it to my own sig?

Skybird, would you by any chance know what episode it's from?

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

Isn't there an arms embargo or something?

From UN Resolution 1973

...and tightened sanctions on the Qadhafi regime and its supporters.

So arms can be distributed to those against the regime!

...flight ban would not apply to flights that had as their sole purpose humanitarian aid, the evacuation of foreign nationals, enforcing the ban or other purposes ***8220;deemed necessary for the benefit of the Libyan people***8221;.

This one's a bit more dubious. Must be the last bit.

Source http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2011/sc10200.doc.htm



Edit - and the quote is from the episode House vs God (Episode 19, Season 2).

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

Isn't there an arms embargo or something?

Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your viewpoint, UNSCR 1970 only specifies an arms embargo with relation to Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. It did not mention any rebel group.

The question to be considered: Is Libyan Arab Jamahiriya the country of Libya or just the current sovereign government of Libya?

One can interpret this question in several ways. Involved parties usually choose to interpret it to their advantage.

If the UNSCR subcommittee approves the sale/delivery of weapons to the rebels, it would not be a violation of UNSCR 1970. Whether this has occurred, I don't know.

[Gerald]

Russia has strongly criticised France for dropping weapons to Libyan rebels and demanded an explanation from Paris.

"If this is confirmed, it is a very crude violation of UN Security Council resolution 1970," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

The African Union has also criticised the move, saying it risks causing a "Somalia-sation" of Libya.

The French military says it has dropped arms to Berber tribal fighters in the mountains south-west of the capital.

Mr Lavrov said Russia had formally requested information from France about the move, to check that it "corresponds with reality".

Mr Lavrov is due to meet French counterpart Alain Juppe in Moscow on Friday.
'Undefended populations'

Moscow abstained from the UN Security Council vote in March that authorised an international mission in Libya to protect civilians.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13979632


Note: Update Record,30 June 2011 Last updated at 15:22 GMT

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by Vendor

Russia has strongly criticised France for dropping weapons to Libyan rebels and demanded an explanation from Paris.

Russia strongly critised the west when they tried to bomb Serb artillery killing civilians in Sarajevo and when NATO considered sending in troops to protect towns like Srebrenica. They can just shut the **** up

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by Betonov

Russia strongly critised the west when they tried to bomb Serb artillery killing civilians in Sarajevo and when NATO considered sending in troops to protect towns like Srebrenica. They can just shut the **** up

You know the old legend, which says, "you should not throw stones in glass houses"

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by Vendor

You know the old legend, which says, "you should not throw stones in glass houses"

I know that one, but.... I don't get the connection with me ranting over Russia ??