Turkey, Qatar suppressing ceasefire attempts in Libya
Libya’s attempts at a political resolution to the
ongoing civil war are being met with opposition by the Turkey and Qatar
alliance, the Libyan National Army (LNA) spokesman Major General Ahmed al
Mesmari said on Sunday.
Ankara has violated the current ceasefire in the oil
rich North African country by sending more mercenaries and using commercial
vessels to smuggle arms into Libya to bolster the Government of National Accord
(GNA), Egypt Today quoted Mesmari as saying.
Turkey and Qatar throw their weight behind Libya’s
internationally recognised GNA, which in recent weeks has turned back a
14-month assault on capital Tripoli by the General Khalifa Haftar-led Libyan National Army
(LNA), backed by Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
The Libya ceasefire is conditional upon a complete
exit of Turkish elements from Libya and the LNA will the country soil from
Turkish occupation and the outlawed militias linked to it, Mesmari said.
Analysts maintain Turkey’s contributions, including
drone and artillery, were vital in helping the GNA recapture land seized by the
LNA, putting forces loyal to Haftar on the back foot.
Turkey has also reportedly flown in thousands of
fighters from allied militias in Syria to aid in the Libyan struggle.
Last week, Turkey’s top security council reaffirmed
its determination to back the GNA in Tripoli, against the rival forces of
Haftar.
Turkey "will not hesitate to take necessary
steps", the country’s National Security Council said.
