The U.S. military said on Tuesday that Russia has deployed fighter aircraft to Libya to support Russian mercenaries fighting for eastern forces, adding to concerns of a new escalation in the conflict.
"Russian military aircraft are likely to provide close air support and offensive fire," the United States Africa Command said in a statement it posted on its website and on Twitter.
Libya's civil war has drawn in regional and global powers with what the United Nations has called a huge influx of weapons and fighters in violation of an arms embargo.