J111333:
Killing Gadhafi has caused more harm than good in Libya.

Not only in Libya. In Africa too. Many of the weapons ceased from Gaddafi ended up in the hands of terrorists, who brought some to the Chad basin area o Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon via the sahel

Voice of America Logo


Lang
Europe
Turkey Faces Pressure as Libyan Conflict Widens
By Dorian Jones
July 21, 2020 01:24 PM

ISTANBUL - The Egyptian parliament’s decision Monday to authorize the possible deployment of Egyptian troops in Libya is highlighting concerns in the region about a possible escalation of the Libyan conflict. International pressure is, meanwhile, growing on Turkey over its involvement as Ankara doubled down on its support of Libya’s Government of National Accord, fueling fears of a wider a regional war.

After a phone conversation Monday, President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al Sissi added their voices to growing international calls for a Libyan ceasefire.


"The two leaders affirmed the need for immediate de-escalation in Libya, including through a ceasefire and progress on economic and political negotiations," the White House said in a statement.

Last week the European Union also called for an end to hostilities.

The ceasefire calls come as GNA forces backed by Turkey are poised to attack the strategically important town of Sirte, which is the gateway to much of Libya's vast energy reserves.

In January, Turkey started sending military personnel to Libya in support of the Tripoli-based GNA. The GNA has been under sustained attack from forces led by Libyan General Khalifa Haftar, who has a power base in eastern Libya. Haftar's Libyan National Army has the backing of countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Russia.


The Turkish intervention turned the tide in the conflict, with Haftar forces suffering heavy losses. Alarmed by this reversal, Cairo is looking to intervene.

Widening conflict

On Monday, the Egyptian parliament voted to allow President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to order Egyptian military intervention in Libya.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Friday pledged "never to abandon the Libyan people," claiming a new agreement deepening cooperation with Tripoli will be signed soon.

Ankara has so far not responded to Trump's call for a ceasefire. But geo analyst Yoruk Isik says Trump's intervention is unlikely to end the fighting immediately.

"Ankara will say this is wonderful. I want a ceasefire. But the Trump statement is not necessarily saying I want a ceasefire tomorrow," said Isik.

"If Trump were to call Erdogan and demand an immediate ceasefire, it would, of course, be different. But I don't think that call will happen because Turkey stopping right at this moment, means the Russians will retain the upper hand in Libya, and Washington doesn't want a ceasefire with the Russians fully settling in Libya."

Moscow officially denies militarily supporting Haftar, but a UN report in May said approximately 1,200 Russian mercenaries with the Wagner Group were backing the Libyan warlord. The Wagner Group is a private security force run by Yevgeny Prigozhin; a businessman reported to have close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Since the end of World War Two, Russia has sought to put Libya under its sphere of influence. Currently, observers say Moscow seeks new naval bases beyond Syria in the Mediterranean.

"Turkey wants to control the Sirte region and then Ankara will agree to a ceasefire, probably the Russians are not happy about that," said Ilhan Uzgel, a political analyst.

Cairo’s moves to intervene are a complicating factor.

"I think given how big the Egyptian army is, and it's the advantageous geographical position [bordering Libya] they [Ankara] should be worried," said Isik.

"But militarily Ankara is aware Egypt is seven months late to take this military threat position. If they took this decision before the Turkish operations started, this threat would be credible. But Turkey is already established in Tripoli; they are applying final touches to turn [Libya's] Al Al-Watiyah [airfield] into a full-fledged Turkish air force base. They have also almost completed a naval base in Misrata."

Isik also says Ankara is likely calculating that the Egyptian army would be wary of carrying out a significant operation deep into Libya.

"Egypt doesn't have the experience it been decades since carrying out major cross border operations, also Ankara is calculating that Cairo doesn't have the political will for such a move."

Europe


Alarmed at the prospect of seeing the Libyan civil war escalate into a regional conflict, the leaders of France, Germany, and Italy issued a thinly veiled warning to Ankara over its military backing of the GNA.

"We are ready to consider the possible use of sanctions if the breaches of the [UN Libyan Arms] embargo at sea, on land or in the air continue," read a joint statement.

Ankara is aware previous EU sanction threats rarely result in meaningful measures, given Turkey's strategic importance.

"If there are any sanctions, they would target individuals active in Libyan affairs, such as military commanders and, or businesspeople suspected of intermediating the military aid to the GNA, and not Turkey at large. Thus, they will probably be symbolic," said consultant Atilla Yesilada of Global Source Partners.

Fueling the conflict

Some European diplomats, speaking anonymously to the international media, are also voicing unease that Turkey appears to be the only country targeted for criticism for supplying arms to Libya, a concern shared by Washington, while others have been doing so as well.

"They could at least if they were serious, I think, call them out -- call out all parties in the conflict when they violate the arms embargo," David Schenker, assistant secretary for Near East Affairs at the State Department, said Thursday.

Egyptian members of parliament attend a general session in the capital Cairo, July 20, 2020.
Libya Remains Calm as Egypt's Parliament Authorizes Military Intervention
Egypt's leader Sissi and US President Trump concur on need for cease-fire in Libya in a Monday night phone call
Egypt, United Arab Emirates, and Russia are all suspected of supplying arms to Haftar's forces.

Despite growing international pressure, Ankara believes it has a winning hand in Libya, calculating that no country is ready to confront the situation directly.

Analyst Uzgel warns of the dangers of overconfidence.

"There is a kind of hubris self-indulgence. Sometimes this may lead them (Turkish leaders) to make serious mistakes as they've done in the past.


My say on the above.

It is well known that Turkey, GNA and their allies did not have a free day after LNA force were pushed out of Tripoli and also withdrew from it and it surrounding areas to sirte; Turkey and GNA troops and equipment got bombed heavily by fighter jets when they tried to take sirte after warnings from Russia that Sirte is a red line.

Turkey and GNA airfield at Al Al-Watiyah was also bombed with their air defences and jamming equipment or radar destroyed.

So I can say that Turkish military capabilities are over hyped.

Just in.

TURKEY, WORLD, EUROPE

Turkey, Russia agree against military solution in Libya
Countries to continue joint efforts, encouraging Libyan parties to create conditions for 'lasting, sustainable' cease-fire
Havva Kara Aydin |
22.07.2020
Turkey, Russia agree against military solution in Libya

ANKARA

Turkey on Wednesday announced that it agreed with Russia that the Libyan conflict would not be resolved through military means and that it could only be settled through a UN-facilitated, Libyan-led-and-owned political process.

In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said the two countries would continue joint efforts, including encouraging the Libyan sides to the conflict, to create "conditions for a lasting and sustainable ceasefire."

The ministry said that in high-level consultations, Ankara and Moscow agreed to facilitate the "advancement of the intra-Libyan political dialogue" in line with the 2020 Berlin Conference on Libya and in coordination with the UN.

In January, a conference took place in the German capital Berlin in order to start a political process and reach a permanent cease-fire in Libya. Global powers and regional actors expressed commitment to support a cease-fire, respect arms embargo and support the UN-facilitated political process.

The two countries will call on the Libyan parties to take measures for the "safe humanitarian access and delivery of urgent assistance to all those in need" and will "consider" creating a Joint Working Group on Libya.

It added that they would convene the next round of consultations in Moscow in "the near future."

Reaffirming their "strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Libya," they underlined the necessity to "combat terrorist individuals and entities."

They also reaffirmed their determination to continue talks to achieve security and stability in the North African country and improve the humanitarian situation there.

Since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, two seats of power have emerged in Libya: Haftar in eastern Libya supported mainly by Egypt and the UAE, and the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, which enjoys the UN and international recognition.

Libya's legitimate government has been under attack by Haftar’s forces since last April, and more than 1,000 people have been killed in the violence.

Haftar has the support of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia while the UN-recognized government is backed by Turkey.

The Libyan government has recently achieved significant victories against Haftar, pushing his forces out of Tripoli and the strategic city of Tarhuna.

Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.
Related topics

Bu haberi paylaşın

Zoharariel:


Snipers at the rooftops? Come on! You assholes do not get tired of regurgitating this Amerika's overused & over-flogged narrative.

There were Snipers at the rooftops in Syria,

There were also Snipers at the rooftops in Iraq,

And there have always been Snipers at the rooftops of every government buildings in every goddamn Country that underwent Amerika's subversion & destabilization.

You lack sense and I hope you know that.

Guess what ? Those Snipers were/are CIA Ops & Blackwater Mercs.

Okay, let's agree with you even though you're wrong. Did that make what Gaddafi did right?

Vega100:
I hope the Western world learns from Libya.

Democracy is not for everyone, the fact it worked for you doesn't mean it will work for everyone, some group of persons don't work by democracy especially persians and babylonians, right from the time of yore they have always been people ruled by strong men and monarchs, trying to defy that order of things set things crumbling. Think of stable countries of middle east today, they are all monarchy. I hope the west learn, don't try foisti g your way if life on people, it mostly won't work.

What do you have to say about Nigeria, Sir?
Every history book I have read, whatever their bias have depicted the North (hausa, Fulani, kanuri) has absolute Monarchy with a tendency toward empire building. The southwest (Yoruba, Bini) has been represented as culturally conservative constitutional (kingmakers, ancient laid down unchanged laws and such) monarchies, and the East (Igbo, Ibibio, Ijaw, etc) as Republic or Republican, even parliamentary or as independent city states.
How do we reconcile this with the present system or even with restructuring?
Do you support self determination in the Nigerian case?
Going by your assertion of democracy not being for everybody and the back drop of most of the modern democratic European states having been monarchical for a long time in the past, can a country not really learn democracy??
I would like your feedback, Sir

Rossonero:
u've said my mind...very long overdue

We're all facing the consequences of neglect. Since the Gaddafi incident insecurity has risen in Africa generally. Arms should not be left in custody of civilians (indisciplined people)

J111333:
Killing Gadhafi has caused more harm than good in Libya.

Gaddafi is not immortal .... It was always going to end like this..... Right now we should just be focused on countering the Eurasian Turkish invasion of an African nation.

Yomhie:
Though I’m a America fan but I must condemn any of their wrong did,they messed up Libya big time I heard Libya was doing very great when gadafi was alive but now Libya is shit hoe like one country

and you say you are their fan ?

Vega100:
I hope the Western world learns from Libya.

Democracy is not for everyone, the fact it worked for you doesn't mean it will work for everyone, some group of persons don't work by democracy especially persians and babylonians, right from the time of yore they have always been people ruled by strong men and monarchs, trying to defy that order of things set things crumbling. Think of stable countries of middle east today, they are all monarchy. I hope the west learn, don't try foisti g your way if life on people, it mostly won't work.

you make me laugh, for your mind they intended good for Libyans? Waiting for the day Africans will wake up.

Mftivi:
you make me laugh, for your mind they intended good for Libyans? Waiting for the day Africans will wake up.

Africans intend worse for themselves. Stop blaming your nations ills on the west, it wasn't Trump that has been stealing the billions in NDDC or NNPC let's learn to bear our own responsibility, tell ourselves this hard truth, and know we are doing great disservice to ourselves by stealing from ourselves all for greed.