The Libyan National Army (LNA) believes the US military’s statements about the alleged arrival of Russian military aircraft in Libya are strange, LNA spokesman Maj. Gen. Ahmad al-Mismari said on Al Arabiya TV channel.

The United Nations has deplored the “grotesque” use of improvised explosive devices against civilians in Libya’s capital Tripoli, the scene of more than a year of deadly fighting.

A confidential report by the UN investigators has unveiled details of a secret mission for foreign military elements from eight countries using boats and helicopters and tasked with intercepting Turkish supplies to the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli.

The US military accused Russia of deploying fighter aircraft to Libya “repainted to camouflage” their origin in support of mercenaries fighting for eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar’s forces.

Russian fighters in Libya were flown out of a town south of Tripoli by their Libyan allies after retreating from the front lines, the town’s mayor said.

Libyan renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar called on his loyalist forces on Saturday to rally against Turkey, a key ally of his UN-recognised rivals in Tripoli, after suffering heavy losses.

The Libyan Foreign Ministry of the Government of National Accord (GNA) said in a statement on Saturday that it would document the finding of a foreign fighter’s body by Libyan Army forces in southern Tripoli frontline of Salah Al-Deen in coordination with the concerned authorities.

Eastern commander Khalifa Haftar is reported to be about to begin a series of air strikes on Turkish targets in Libya after suffering a week of setbacks in his fight against the Ankara-backed government in Tripoli.

Russia and Turkey backed an immediate ceasefire in Libya during a phone call between both countries’ foreign ministers, Moscow said on Thursday.

Turkey has warned that attacks on its interests in Libya by renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar’s forces will have “grave consequences” after advances by the country’s Turkish-backed government.