Libyan Crisis

An agreement on maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean Sea signed between Turkey and Libya's internationally-recognized government is "unhelpful and provocative," a spokesman from the US State Department has said, adding that Ankara's claims are contrary to international law which stipulates that inhabited islands are on the same footing as mainland coastline in the delineation of exclusive e

Turkey mainly cares for the immediate end of clashes and the announcement of a cease-fire in Libya, presidential spokesperson İbrahim Kalın has said, calling on the parties in the country to return the positions they were in last year in April.

Turkey has urged U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to be more active in Libya by boosting efforts for a political solution and cease-fire, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has revealed, reiterating that the continued deadly offensive by General Khalifa Haftar's forces risks deeper chaos and further disintegration in the country.

Libya's High Council of State welcomed the passage of a motion by Turkey's parliament on sending troops to Libya.

The council's statement followed a request by the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) for help.

Turkey's bill allowing troop deployment in Libya marks a dangerous escalation in the North African country's civil war and severely threatens stability in the region, a joint statement by Greece, Israel and Cyprus said late on Thursday.

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias is visiting Libya, where he is expected to meet with Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, leader of the Libyan National Army fighting the UN-recognized Libyan government, Arab media report.

Dendias left earlier Sunday from the Elefsina military airport, headed to Benghazi.

Turkey on Aug. 11 condemned a car bomb explosion in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi that claimed the lives of two United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) staff and left many people wounded.

Six Turks detained in Libya by forces loyal to Commander Khalifa Haftar have been released, Turkey's foreign ministry said on July 1, a day after it warned the militia would become a "legitimate target" unless they were released immediately.

Turkey has taken all measures against possible hostile moves or threats, country's defense minister said on June 30, referring to threats by the spokesman of Khalifa Haftar's forces in Libya.

The White House said on April 19 that President Donald Trump spoke by phone earlier in the week and discussed "ongoing counterterrorism efforts" with Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar, leader of a military assault on the capital Tripoli in opposition to the internationally recognized government.