Muammar Gaddafi

Demining experts from the Turkish Armed Forces on June 11 started clearing civilian areas in Libya.

The move comes upon the request of the Libyan government to ensure the safe return of civilians to their homes located in areas liberated from warlord Khalifa Haftar's militia.

Turkish foreign minister on June 11 said Istanbul's Hagia Sophia is "not a matter of international affairs, but a matter of national sovereignty."

Speaking in a televised interview, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu responded to the recent discussions over the possible reopening of Hagia Sophia as a mosque and said the popular site was initially a mosque after conquering of Istanbul.

Turkey and the U.S. are approaching a new era in ties over the handling of the situation in Libya, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said June 8.  

A new era can begin in bilateral relations on the transition process in Libya, Erdoğan told national broadcaster TRT.

Turkey's presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalın on June 1 held a phone conversation with U.S. National Security Advisor Robert C. O'Brien, according to the spokesperson's office.

The two officials discussed various issues including recent developments in Syria and Libya, the fight against COVID-19, the fight with terrorism, and recent protests in the U.S.

Turkey has decided to freeze the assets of the Libyan Investment Authority and the Libyan Africa Investment Portfolio in line with a decision by the United Nations Security Council.

Libya's army on May 18 retook Al-Watiya airbase occupied by warlord Khalifa Haftar's militias, a key airbase now back under government control after some six years under putschist forces.

The victory was announced by the media office of the government-led Burkan Al-Ghadab (Volcano of Rage) Operation, citing Osama al-Juwaili, the commander of Operation Peace Storm.

Turkey's president and the head of NATO on May 14 discussed via telephone the novel coronavirus and steps to take in the post-pandemic period, according to a statement by Ankara's presidential Directorate of Communications.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Jens Stoltenberg also discussed the latest developments in Syria and Libya.

NATO is ready to support Libya's government led by Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of the military alliance said on May 14.

In an interview with Italian daily La Repubblica, Jens Stoltenberg noted that NATO has 30 partners, which on many issues have different positions, but added that Turkey remains an important ally.

Any attack on Turkish missions in Libya by Khalifa Haftar's forces can expect a military response, the country's ruling party spokesman warned the renegade warlord on May 12.

Turkey will consider elements of Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar as a legitimate target if the country's interests in Libya are targeted, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on May 10.