Italian police seize Chinese drones bound for Libya disguised as wind turbines

Italian customs police in Calabria, Italy, seized a shipment of Chinese "war drones" destined for Libya after a coordinated operation with U.S. intelligence. The bust at the port of Gioia Tauro revealed components disguised as wind turbine parts that could assemble two drones weighing over 3 tons each. The drones were identified as China's Wing Loong II model, previously exported to the UAE. China has expanded its military drone exports, including to countries like Algeria, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The intercepted shipment was suspected to be headed for Libyan warlord Gen. Khalifa Haftar, a key figure in the country's ongoing conflict. The operation was part of a broader probe involving multiple countries and entities, including Russia's involvement with Haftar. The U.S. State Department had recently sanctioned a Russian company for printing counterfeit Libyan currency, exacerbating economic challenges in the region. The interception in Italy confirmed suspicions raised by previous reports and highlighted the complex web of international relations and arms trafficking in the conflict-ridden region.