By RFIPosted on 30-12-2019Changed on 30-12-2019 at 20:57
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan transmitted this Monday, December 30 to Parliament for consideration a motion authorizing the deployment of soldiers in Libya to support the government of Prime Minister Fayez el-Sarraj, an ally of Ankara against the offensive of Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the strong man of eastern Libya. The text will be debated in the Turkish Parliament in extraordinary session on Thursday. Its adoption is beyond doubt.
With our correspondent in Istanbul , Anne Andlauer
It is a text whose scope may seem limited, but whose imprecise formulation could pave the way for a long and massive engagement of the Turkish army in Libya.
The text signed by Recep Tayyip Erdogan first mentions " training and advisory services " that the Turkish armed forces could provide to the Government of Libyan National Union. This aid would aim to " preserve the integrity of Libya " but also to " fight the Islamic State group, al-Qaeda and the other terrorist groups, (...) illegal migration and trafficking in human beings ".
The text also refers to threats that Khalifa Haftar's forces would pose to Turkish businesses and citizens based in Libya, and to Turkish ships in the Mediterranean.
The last paragraph of the resolution leaves the Turkish President free to decide on the duration and extent of this support, including the number of soldiers, the nature of their mission and the units concerned.
Several experts believe that Ankara should deploy members of its special forces and other highly qualified personnel to Libya.
At the same time, Turkey is accused of having sent Syrian combatants used by its army on the spot during its operations in Syria.
comments