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France says Javelin missiles found in Libya were "unusable" - army ministry
A member of forces allied to Libya's internationally recognized government looks at American Javelin anti-tank missiles, which were confiscated from eastern forces led by Khalifa Haftar in Gharyan, in Tripoli, Libya, June 29, 2019. PHOTO BY REUTERS/Ismail Zitouny
10/07/2019
PARIS (Reuters) - The French military said on Wednesday several Javelin missiles found in a rebel base in Libya were purchased by the French government from the United States but were never intended for sale or transfer to any party to the Libya conflict.
In a statement sent to reporters, the Army Ministry said the missiles were intended for the "self-protection of a French military unit deployed to carry out counter-terrorism operations".
"Damaged and unusable, the armaments were being temporarily stocked at a depot ahead of their destruction," the ministry said.
The New York Times reported earlier that the cache of four Javelin anti-tank missiles were recovered last month by Libyan government forces during a raid on a rebel camp in the town of Gheryan, in the mountains south of Tripoli.
(Reporting by Sophie Louet; Writing by Luke Baker; Editing by Richard Lough)
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