Notable
‘Mercenary’ pilot captured by Libya’s Haftar forces identified as a US Air Force vet after release
https://www.rt.com/news/462716-libya-pilot-identified-american/
A fighter jet pilot who was shot down and captured by the forces of one of Libya’s rival governments was revealed to be a US Air Force veteran. The US media identified Jamie Sponaugle after his Saudi-facilitated release.
Sponaugle was captured by the Libyan National Army (LNA), the military force loyal to Gen. Khalifa Haftar, allegedly after his Mirage F1 was shot down near capital Tripoli on May 7. The LNA said the man was conducting bombing raids against its troops on behalf of Libya’s internationally-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) and accused him of being a mercenary. The true identity of the pilot, who was previously reported as a Portuguese national, was first broken by the Washington Post and later confirmed by CNN.