Farewell Syria: Russia takes six air bases in Libya

We are focusing on the eastern front in Ukraine, but Moscow is also making moves in other directions. It is planning and funding infrastructure projects at no fewer than six Libyan air bases: Al-Jufra, Al-Khadim, Al-Qardabiyah, Brak al-Shati, Maaten al-Sarra and Tamanhint. According to the Tearline Project of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency – as reported by Africa Defence Forum – the air bases are scattered across the country and are said to house a range of military equipment, including air defence systems, MiG-29 fighter jets and drones. They are run by Russian military personnel and mercenaries belonging to Africa Corps. Russia used Syria as a hub for equipment, weapons and personnel destined for Africa, until the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. At that point, it became even more important for Vladimir Putin to forge new ties with Libya in order to replicate the Syrian model. Initially, the target was the city of Tobruk, which, with its sea and air ports, would have facilitated maritime logistics and regular flights. When this attempt failed, the focus shifted to expansion further inland. This expansion is partly aimed at bases that have never hosted Russian personnel and, in other cases, at utilising existing logistical infrastructure. Taken as a whole, these developments form part of a broader effort to expand Russia’s military presence in Libya and exploit the country’s strategic position to facilitate the movement of personnel, equipment and weapons across North Africa and the Sahel. According to the US report, in fact, the deployment of military bases would cover a large part of the territory with a twofold objective. The first is logistical, as highlighted above, and the second is political. The continued presence of foreign military forces poses a challenge to efforts to unify Libyan institutions and remove foreign forces and mercenaries from the country. These forces undermine the electoral process.

According to this line of reasoning, the airbase at Maaten Al-Sarra, near Libya’s borders with Chad and Sudan, would appear to be the most important for Russian operations. The airbase had been abandoned since 2011. Work has now begun on refurbishing the runways, warehouses and other facilities. At the Al-Khadim airbase, approximately 100 kilometres east of Benghazi, three new hangars and facilities believed to be intended for accommodation and logistical support have been built over the past year. A communications tower and barracks are also due to be added in 2026, whilst Russian personnel have been observed moving regularly within the base. Russian forces have maintained a presence in Jufra since 2019. Development work has included the refurbishment of aircraft hangars and the construction of small buildings, fences, earthworks and additional support facilities. Activity at the Ghardabiya airbase, linked to Sirte International Airport, is believed to date back to 2022. Infrastructure development has included the refurbishment of the runway and the reinforcement of the base perimeter. The Russian presence at the Brak Al-Shati airbase, on the other hand, has only expanded since March 2024, with the construction of a hangar and two buildings believed to be intended for aircraft maintenance. According to the report, the number of Russian personnel at the base has risen from around 300 to 450 since December 2024. Finally, the report described activities within the Tamanhint airbase, which had previously been used by Wagner Group personnel for military operations and to facilitate arms transfers to Sudan. Here, the expansion and refurbishment works at the base are said to have included accommodation facilities, a road linking the runway to the hangars, and modifications to the runway itself.

Russian activities at the six Libyan air bases show how Moscow is expanding its military presence in North Africa, whilst simultaneously transferring weapons, mercenaries and other fighters to conflict zones. The revelations from the Tearline Project – confirmed by two sources to 24OreNextMed – suggest this move should be seen as a genuine wake-up call. The next eight months, leading up to the likely elections in spring 2027, mark an extremely delicate period for Libya. There are multiple manoeuvres underway by foreign actors (from Turkey to Qatar and even China) that border on diplomatic activities, whilst Russia’s involvement opens up a new scenario. Its direct military presence and ability to deploy mercenaries at short notice are clearly aimed at destabilising the country and the Sahel. And it aims to disrupt the regulation of trafficking in the Mediterranean. This issue should be part of the daily debate in Italia and across Europe. It seems strange to imagine Russia as a hostile actor solely in Ukraine. Of course, the methods are different. But the objectives of destabilisation risk being the same.