Turkey extends military intervention in Libya for 18 months
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Turkey is extending its military intervention in Libya by another year and a half, as per the request of the UN-backed government in Tripoli.
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Defense Minister Hulusi Akar (C) visits Turkish troops in Libya, July 5, 2020 (Anadolu Agency)
Ankara on Tuesday approved a motion to extend Turkey's military intervention in Libya for an additional 18 months as of July 2.
The Turkish Presidency submitted the request in light of a request for "military assistance" by the Libyan government on June 13.
"Turkey continues its strong support for the protection of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political unity of Libya, the establishment of a permanent cease-fire in the country, and the efforts of political dialogue that will ensure national reconciliation," the motion said.
Akara also explained that the political uncertainty that came to life after Tripoli failed to hold the elections set for December of last year in Libya jeopardized the country's tranquility, posing "a serious obstacle" to achieving long-lasting stability.
The motion also came with assertions that there were threats emanating from Libya for the entire region, including Turkey. It also noted that Ankara's interests in the Mediterranean basin and North Africa would be affected by attacks on the Libyan government.
The Turkish parliament had allowed for the deployment of troops in Libya for a one-year period in January 2020, but Akara extended the mandate by 18 months until July 2022.
Turkey and The Tripoly government in Libya had signed a pact on military cooperation in late 2019, among other agreements that included the demarcation of maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Libya is a resource-rich country, but the people have been robbed of their right to enjoy their country's resources after NATO launched a military attack on the country in 2011.
NATO's international war was concocted by Brussels and Washington, subsequently leading to the collapse of Libya as a whole.
The presidential and parliamentary elections in Libya, which were originally set for December 2021, were supposed to be the result of the UN-sponsored peace process after the last round of violence shook the country from 2019 to 2020. The vote never took place because of deep disagreements between factions.
However, rival sides in the conflict in Libya concluded their latest round of talks on Monday without reaching a deal on the rules of the elections, according to the UN Secretary General's Special Advisor.
Since the 2011 war, Libya has been divided by two rival powers, the first of which is in eastern Libya and led by military commander Khalifa Haftar, and the second is the Government of National Accord in Tripoli.
