- The mistakes in the preparation of the operation, the carelessness, and the attempt to cover up
- The signal of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and why the General Staffs (Hellenic Air Force General Staff and Hellenic Navy General Staff) were never informed.
- What happened on the bus and why do survivors’ testimonies say they did not feel the impact and only saw the explosion, which was violent?
By Paris Karvounopoulos
The mission of Greek soldiers in Libya was a predictable fiasco. The bad thing is that none of those who undertook its frivolous and sloppy planning thought that the failure of the “plan” would cost human lives. The Data Journalists team of journalists put together the deadly puzzle that cost the lives of five people in burning Libya…an assignment in an area of eastern Libya where chaos reigns, as ISIS, illegal migrant smugglers, and Russian mercenaries have taken refuge there. In this region, the Greek forces suffered one of the worst blows in their history and this cannot be attributed to “a crack of misfortune” as the Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (!) told a wounded man. There are other causes.
After affecting Greece, the storm named Daniel swept through the distressed nation of Libya. Thousands of dead, total devastation. The country’s warring “authorities” are appealing for help…
The hated French in Libya are sending a team of doctors, nursing staff, and rescuers. About 50 people, accompanied not by military force but by “military police”. At the same time, they have recruited local armed groups to ensure their protection…
The friendly Turks – as far as the government in Tripoli is concerned – are sending 400 people by tankers and a force of 122. Turkey has “invaded” Libya, where Greece once had a privileged relationship and position.
Video of Turks disembarking in Libya
The Greek government felt that it must have at least a symbolic presence in Libya at this difficult time. The first thought was to have the National Center for Immediate Assistance take over the shipment of medical supplies. The response was negative, both because of the situation in the country following the disasters in Thessaly and because of the high risk of the mission in Libya. The same answer was given by the Greek National Center for Emergency Care. The Armed Forces were the last resort. The Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff Kostas Floros almost offered to do the mission. But what was the mission? Transport of medical supplies to the town of Derna.
The town had been completely destroyed by the deadly storm. The situation was, and still is, in disarray.
Video of the destroyed town of Derna
The signal of the Joint Chiefs of Defense for the mission in Libya was released on the morning of Thursday, September 14. It calls for Health officials to join the mission. There is no response. So Squadron Leader Eleftheria Andreadaki and Commander Glykeria Memekidou are selected. Both served in the Health Directorate of the General Staff. They were selected for the mission and, according to reports, the General Staffs of the -Hellenic Air Force General Staff and Hellenic Navy General Staff- were never informed. It is certain that in the investigations into the cause of the fiasco in Libya, written orders to the two officers will be sought. Some claim that the order was verbal, but this in the Armed Forces is unthinkable…
At the same time, the “security team” is set up. This is selected by the Hellenic National Defense General Staff. 11 paratroopers are assigned to escort five members of the Armed Forces Medical Corps in Libya. The composition does not resemble a humanitarian mission.
Within 24 hours, at noon on Friday, the team is assembled. What’s the rush? From where and why was there pressure? The questions are extremely crucial to answer because this rush has largely led to the tragedy.
What should have been done before the Air Force C-130 took off for Libya to eliminate the risk of the mission?
A “scouting” team should be sent to the area to have a clear assessment of the situation. This does not appear to have been done due to lack of time. We are talking about an area that is supposed to be under the control of the Haftar forces but in reality, ISIS forces, migrant smugglers, and Russian mercenaries have taken refuge there.
Was there so-called Human Intelligence, that is, information from human intelligence sources about the ground situation, and the geographical and political conditions of the area where the mission was to operate?
Were there guarantees for the safety of the Greek mission from the local military-paramilitary groups? There were assurances but no guarantees. So, we ended up with the security of the Greek mission being in the hands of armed non-state actors. How is it possible that we entrusted the security of Greek soldiers in such hands?
Lieutenant Colonel (retired) of the Special Forces Nikos Skiadas to Data Journalists
Had the issue of arming the 11 paratroopers accompanying the mission been settled? To do so would require a special diplomatic license. Was any effort made to ensure that the paratroopers went to Libya armed? As it appeared after the tragedy, this issue had not been settled either.
The original plan was for the C-130 aircraft to land in Baida, a town relatively close to the devastated Derna. The plan was changed at the last minute because the Libyans claimed that there was a problem on the runway. They proposed to land the Greek transport plane in Benghazi, 210 kilometers away. Why did the Joint Chiefs of Staff accept the change of plan and not abort the mission?
Instead, while the mission was in progress, the Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General himself released photos on social media with all the personnel – and the paratroopers – exposed to those who might want to harass the mission.
Why was there absolutely no provision to have armored vehicles to transport our troops and they were eventually crammed into a bus powered by LPG? Including the 11 paratroopers who were supposed to be on a mission to protect the medical personnel.
Why was not the slightest attempt made to consult with the UN and put the operation under its auspices?
Why didn’t Greece send a general service ship with campaign hospitals like Turkey and opt for a land mission in hostile territory?
Why was the cooperation of Libyan officers who have studied and graduated from Greek military schools not requested as in 2014 in the bloodless operation AGINOR? In 2014 Greece evacuated thousands of civilians from burning Libya without anything bad happening. There had been a consultation with Admiral Faraz al-Mahdawi, a graduate of the Naval Cadet School.
What burned the bus?
The photos and videos of the burning bus are shocking and raise legitimate questions
The intensity and speed of the fire immediately aroused suspicions that the Greek mission was attacked. The removal of the vehicle with the guerrillas in front of the bus increased these suspicions. As did photographs showing holes in the body of the bus.
Further survivor testimonies say they did not feel the impact and only saw the explosion, which was violent. After 48 hours the Greek government finally adopted the version of the accident. However, in private discussions, government officials add that no one “can put their finger on what really happened”.
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Οι φωτογραφίες και τα βίντεο του λεωφορείου να καίγεται είναι συγκλονιστικές και προκαλούν εύλογα ερωτήματαΗ έρευνα των DataJournalists εδώ: https://t.co/5LeIsR417A pic.twitter.com/pPmR6CEdws
— Data Journalists (@JournalistsData) September 20, 2023
The other possibilities that the government has taken out of the discussion are that the bus was hit by a missile or that the bus was trapped with explosives. If these are valid the collision with the jeep follows.
Immediately after the tragedy, the grotesque followed. The Joint Chiefs of Staff are being briefed immediately. The excuses that the mobile networks were not working are contradicted by the videos available from the scene of the tragedy.
Libyans talking on their mobile phones
The bus burst into flames at about 16:00. At 17:40 the National Operations Centre at the Ministry of Defense has already assembled a second team of healthcare officials to fly to Libya and bring back the dead and wounded. From the composition of the team of doctors and nurses, it is clear that the General Staff of National Defense and the government in general knew the extent of the drama unfolding in Libya.
However, it was not until 19:43 that the General Staff of National Defense issued its first statement, which referred to “minor injuries”.
The Libyan Minister of Health had already made statements, announced the number of dead, and expressed his condolences to Greece.
Statements of the Libyan Minister of Health (in Arabic)
From 21:30 until 23:00 major international media, with Reuters being the last one to report the news about the dead Greeks. At midnight, a full eight hours after the death of the Greek soldiers, the General Staff finally issued a statement admitting the fact.
No special explanation is needed to convince anyone that the sending of the Greek soldiers to Libya was done sloppily, carelessly, and with the primary aim of communication gains. The slogan “We are everywhere” that the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Greece “launched” in recent days, promoting the participation of the Armed Forces in the disasters in Thessaly, seems not to have been enough. They thought that the mission in Libya would be a mere walk in the park. It turned out to be a death trap that the highest levels of the military hierarchy and the government had not realized. Some have justified what Bertolt Brecht said: “Only bad generals need heroes”…
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