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
Part of the Libyan civil war (2014–2020)


Top: Territorial map of the Libyan Civil War in January 2020

Bottom: Current territorial map of the Libyan Civil War
  Under the control of the House of Representatives and the Libyan National Army
  Under the control of the Government of National Accord (GNA) and different militias forming the Libya Shield Force
  Controlled by local forces
Date5 January 2020 (2020-01-05) – ongoing
Location
Result

Ceasefire

  • GNA repelled the LNA offensive and advanced towards Sirte and Western libya
Belligerents

 Turkey
Syrian Interim Government
SADAT International Defense Consultancy

In support of:
Government of National Accord
Supported by:

House of Representatives
 Syria
Wagner Group
Gaddafi loyalists

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
496 killed
27 captured,
400+ deserted


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.

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