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Libya’s eastern forces seize Turkish-crewed ship Libya’s east-based forces seize ship with Turkish crew
(about 1 hour later)
BENGHAZI, Libya — Libya’s Benghazi-based forces claimed they seized a ship with Turkish crew members, as tensions in the eastern Mediterranean continue to rise over a contentious maritime border deal. BENGHAZI, Libya — Libya’s forces based in the country’s east say they have seized a ship with Turkish crew members amid tensions in the eastern Mediterranean over a contentious maritime border deal involving Tripoli and Ankara.
In a statement late Saturday, the self-styled Libyan National Army said a vessel flying a Grenada flag with several Turkish crew members had been forcibly taken into a Libyan port for inspection. But it remains unclear if the LNA’s move was indeed a seizure. The development comes as Turkey recently increased its backing for Libya’s U.N.-supported government, based in the country’s west, in the capital of Tripoli. In Libya’s protracted conflict, that administration is a bitter rival to the east-based one. Libya is divided between the two sides, each supported by an array of militias and foreign governments.
Libya is divided between rival governments. One is based in the eastern city of Benghazi, while a weak U.N.-supported administration holds the capital, Tripoli, and parts of the west. Both are supported by an array of militias and foreign governments. In a statement late Saturday, the self-styled Libyan National Army — which backs the east-based administration — said a vessel flying a Grenada flag with several Turkish crew members had been forcibly taken into a Libyan port for inspection. However, it remained unclear if the move was indeed a seizure.
The Benghazi-based LNA, led by commander Khalifa Hifter, has been trying to capture the capital since April. The self-styled army and its commander, Khalifa Hifter, have been trying to capture Tripoli since April. The offensive threatens to plunge Libya into another bout of violence, the scale of the 2011 conflict that ousted and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
A renewed LNA offensive on the capital threatens to plunge Libya into another bout of violence rivaling the scale of the 2011 conflict that ousted and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Turkey and Libya’s Tripoli-based government signed a maritime agreement last month, drawing international outrage and concern from several Mediterranean countries. The deal gives Turkey access to a contested economic zone across the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Turkey and Libya’s Tripoli-based government signed a maritime agreement last month, drawing international outrage and concern from some neighboring Mediterranean countries. The deal gives Turkey access to a contested economic zone across the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Turkey’s parliament also approved a security agreement with Tripoli on Saturday, allowing Turkey to provide military training and equipment at Tripoli’s request, further angering the east-based administration.
Turkey’s parliament also approved a security agreement with the Tripoli government on Saturday, further angering the Benghazi-based administration. The deal allows Turkey to provide military training and equipment at Tripoli’s request. The U.S. State Department late Saturday expressed “concern” over both the Tripoli government’s request for Turkish military support and the self-styled LNA’s threat to enlist “foreign-supplied air assets and mercenaries” in its assault on the capital, saying such actions threaten “prospects for resolving the conflict” and urging all sides to refrain from any further escalations.
The agreements have prompted a flurry of diplomatic attention. The U.S. State Department jumped in late Saturday, expressing “concern” over the Tripoli-based government’s request for Turkish military support, along with the “LNA’s threat to use foreign-supplied air assets and mercenaries” in its ongoing assault on the capital. Responding to the State Department, the Tripoli government’s foreign minister, Mohamed Sayala, stressed that the U.N.-supported government is Libya’s “legitimate and sole representative” and urging Washington to show “clear and open position” against Hifter’s advance on Tripoli.
The U.S. statement warned that “external military intervention threatens prospects for resolving the conflict,” and urged all sides to refrain from any further escalations. Tripoli’s maritime agreement with Ankara has alienated even traditional European supporters. Greece, a longtime rival of Turkey, expelled Libya’s ambassador and on Sunday, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias visited Benghazi, the seat of the east-based administration and Hifter’s LNA.
Responding to the State Department, the Tripoli government’s foreign minister stressed that the U.N.-supported government is Libya’s “legitimate and sole representative” Mohamed Sayala called for a “clear and open position” from Washington against Hifter’s advance on Tripoli. A statement from the meeting quoted Dendias as criticizing the secuirity deal as a “threat to the unity of Libya and to the entire region.”
A senior lawmaker in the Benghazi parliament told The Associated Press that the Turkish agreements are “a provocation” to neighboring Arab and European countries.A senior lawmaker in the Benghazi parliament told The Associated Press that the Turkish agreements are “a provocation” to neighboring Arab and European countries.
“This will prolong the conflict and threaten North African nations ... to spread chaos in the region,” said Talal Al-Mihoub, chairman of the parliament’s defense and national security committee.“This will prolong the conflict and threaten North African nations ... to spread chaos in the region,” said Talal Al-Mihoub, chairman of the parliament’s defense and national security committee.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the security agreement gives his country the right to send troops to Libya to help the Tripoli government counter the LNA, which is allegedly backed by Russian militia forces. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey could send troops to Libya if the Tripoli government formally asked. “If needed, we will increase the military aspect of our support for Libya,” Erdogan declared again on Sunday.
Al-Mihoub denied accusations that the LNA has received Russian military support. “We reject the foreign military intervention and any boots on the ground,” he said. Libyan and U.S. officials have accused Russia of deploying fighters to Libya through a private security contractor, something Moscow denies.
Libyan and U.S. officials have accused Russia of deploying fighters to Libya through a private security contractor in recent months. Moscow has repeatedly denied any role in the fighting.
Hifter’s LNA and the eastern government enjoy the support of France, Russia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and other key Arab countries. The Tripoli-based government is backed by Italy, Turkey and Qatar.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.