Western Libya offensive

Turkey angrily accused France on Tuesday of exacerbating the crisis in Libya and violating UN and NATO decisions by supporting the forces of Khalifa Haftar against the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA).

German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the conflict in Libya and the situation in the eastern Mediterranean in a video call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Merkel's spokesman said in a statement on June 16.

Turkey and Libya's internationally recognized government are discussing possible Turkish use of two military bases in the North African country, a Turkish source said on Monday, with a view to a lasting Turkish presence in the south Mediterranean.

Libya's foreign minister on June 14 urged the U.N. Security Council to refer mass graves discovered in the city of Tarhuna to the International Criminal Court.

According to a written statement published by the Foreign Ministry on its Facebook account, Mohamed Siala sent a letter to the U.N. Security Council.

A planned visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to Turkey for June 14 was postponed after a phone conversation between the foreign ministers on June 14, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

Turkey on Wednesday dismissed Egypt's proposal for a ceasefire in Libya, saying the plan aimed to save Khalifa Haftar after the collapse of his offensive to control the capital Tripoli, Hurriyet newspaper reported.

Libyan renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar's recent attempt for a ceasefire in Libya, supported by Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, is "stillborn," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has said.

"Call for a ceasefire in Cairo was stillborn," the minister told daily Hürriyet.

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 on June 8 after a phone conversation with the U.S. president.

Turkey is willing to do business in Libya as Turkish companies have a very long experience in contributing to the development of the North African country, presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın has said, citing energy, construction, aviation and port management as potential areas of cooperation.

The Libyan army announced June 6 it launched five airstrikes on Sirte, soon after it indicated the liberation of the city is its new goal after Tarhuna. 

The government's Burkan Al-Ghadab (Volcano of Rage) Operation said the strikes targeted armored vehicles provided by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and militias loyal to renegade Gen. Khalifa Haftar.