American military pilot released in Libya

 

A fighter jet pilot who was shot down and captured by the forces of one of Libya’s rival governments and revealed to be a US Air Force veteran, has been freed and flown out of Libya.

The US media identified Jamie Sponaugle after his Saudi-facilitated release though there has been some confusion at first whether he was Portuguese or American.

Sponaugle was captured by the Libyan National Army (LNA), the military force loyal to 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 identity of the pilot, who was previously reported as a Portuguese national, was first broken by the Washington Post.

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.

Via Libya Express / The Washington Post

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