France says Javelin missiles found in Libya “unusable”

French defence ministry says the "unusable" US-made Javelin missiles were never intended to be passed to any group, and were due to be destroyed as it denies supplying them to the rebels which would be a breach of a UN arms embargo.

However, the missiles were discovered in a camp south of the capital Tripoli, used by forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar.

Gen Haftar's forces are currently fighting for control of the city.

The battle for Tripoli - home of the internationally recognised government - began when Gen Haftar's forces launched an attack in April, with hundreds killed in the months since.

The four missiles were discovered in June when forces loyal to the UN-backed government overran the camp, prompting an investigation in Washington.

It is the first time since 2016 that France has publicly acknowledged it still has special forces deployed in Libya. It is not clear how many troops are deployed.

"These weapons were for the protection of forces undertaking intelligence and counter-terror missions," the defence ministry statement said.

It added the missiles were "damaged and unusable" and "being temporarily stocked at a depot ahead of their destruction".

Libya has been torn by violence and division since long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011.

No authority has full control over Libya and the country is extremely unstable, torn between several political and military factions, the two most important of which are led by Prime Minister Fayez Mustafa al-Sarraj and Gen Haftar.

The general has been active in Libyan politics for more than four decades and was one of Gadaffi's close allies until a dispute in the late 1980s forced him to live in exile in the US.

After returning to Libya when the uprising began in 2011, he built up a power base in the east and has won some support from France, Egypt and the UAE.