Turkish intervention in Libya (2020–present)
In 2020, Turkey militarily intervened in support of the United Nations-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) of Libya in the 2014–2020 Libyan civil war. Military intervention was approved by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on 2 January 2020, which passed a one-year mandate to deploy troops to Libya. Turkish military deployments to Libya began on 5 January.
2020 Turkish intervention in Libya | |||||||
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Part of the Libyan civil war (2014–2020) | |||||||
Under the control of the Government of National Accord (GNA) and different militias forming the Libya Shield Force Controlled by local forces | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Turkey Government of National Accord |
House of Representatives Supported by: | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Hulusi Akar Hakan Fidan Fayez al-Sarraj |
Khalifa Haftar Aguila Saleh Issa | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
Unknown 18,000 (Peak) 50 advisors |
unknown 1,200 Wagner Group 4,000 (peak) | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
2 killed 500 killed (per LNA) 27 killed (per LNA) |
100 killed (per Turkey, as of February 2020) 8 killed |
Direct Turkish support for the Government of National Accord usually involves on-the-ground advisers providing training and operational support, air support through unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), intelligence operatives and support from Turkish Navy vessels for Libyan ground forces. In addition to its own troop and equipment deployments, Turkey was hiring and transporting Syrian mercenaries from the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army to support and bolster the manpower of the GNA since December 2019.
The Turkish military intervention in Libya is mainly interpreted as an attempt to secure access to resources and maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean as part of its Blue Homeland Doctrine (Turkish: Mavi Vatan), especially following the ratification of the Libya–Turkey maritime deal. Secondary Turkish objectives are believed to include countering Egyptian and Emirati influence in the Middle East and North Africa. Turkish involvement has also led to disputes with Greece, Israel, and Cyprus.
In December 2023, the Turkish parliament approved the extension of the deployment of the Turkish forces in Libya for two more years starting from 2 January 2024.