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In January, Turkey has started sending military troops to Libya to support the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA). Since April 2019, the UN-recognized regime has been under attack by forces led by Khalifa Haftar, known as the Libyan warlord whose aim is to topple down the GNA.
The formal request of Turkish military support of “air, ground and sea” was made by the GNA in late 2019, Turkey’s parliament approved the security and military deal with Libya’s GNA a month before finally went on effect also in late 2019. The deal allows Turkey to provide military training and equipment at the request of the Libyan government, which controls the capital, Tripoli, and some of the country’s west.
The request made to fight off the self-proclaimed military leader Haftar, reportedly backed by the UAE, Egypt, France and Russia. The UN-recognized Government was found in 2015 headed by al-Sarraj as the country’s legitimate authority. Last fall, Ankara and Tripoli signed the landmark pacts on military cooperation, as well as boundaries in the Mediterranean. Ankara has also sent military advisers to assist the Libyan Army. Turkey has been Libya’s strategic ally and supporting the UN-recognized government.
