Erdoğan supports GNA militias with weapons, money

Aya Ezz

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is seeking to increase his influence in Libya through a fake cooperation between the two countries, as latest developments showed that the Government of National Accord, head by Fayez al-Sarraj, is colluding with Erdoğan against the national army.

Spokesman for the Government of National Accord (GNA), Muhannad Younis revealed that the government of the Accord has activated the old agreements with Turkey on military cooperation.

“There are old agreements with Turkey, these agreements have been activated and also asked them for new things and they will come from Turkey and from all the countries that support the Wefaq government.” Younis has said at a press conference held after a cabinet meeting to discuss the situation in Tripoli.

For his part, Erdogan has said Turkey will help Libya as it has done before and will do everything in its power to foil attempts that aim to turn Libya into another Syria.

Younis pointed out that Turkey will be providing weapons to the GNA forces, however, he did not clarifying what “new things” will be provided by Turkey as well. It has been also revealed that Qatar is among countries that support the GNA.

Libyan army spokesman Ahmed al-Mesmari affirmed earlier that Turkey provides funds and arms to mercenaries of the national accord government.

Tunisian journalist and analyst Nizar Makni was quoted by the Turkish Ahval newspaper as saying that Turkey’s military support will go directly to the battalions in Misrata and will mostly be heavy and anti-aircraft weapons.

Khaled al-Mahjoub, a Libyan military spokesman and a Brigadier in the Libyan National Army, has also revealed Intelligence reports of receiving Daesh operatives at the Italian hospital in Misrata for treatment.

Mahjoub has said Daesh fighters are aiding the Muslim Brotherhood in their fight against the Libya National Army.

“Turkey is fishing in murky waters by taking advantage of the deterioration of the security situation in Libya and the decisive battle between the national army and GNA militias,” Libyan political analyst Magdi Islamil told The Reference in an interview.

“Erdoğan seeks to destroy the Libyan army by any means to spread his influence in Africa and harass Egypt through its borders, therefore, he supports the terrorist Government of National Accord,” he added.