Government of National Accord

The Arab League remains silent, unable to demonstrate determination in support of the legitimate government in Libya, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Dec. 31.

Turkey has long supported a political settlement in Libya and an end to attacks and the establishment of a complete ceasefire among the warring sides, spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement.

Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) said it had destroyed 12 armed vehicles and killed 10 militants of rival Khalifa Haftar forces as fresh clashes hit southern Tripoli.

In April, Haftar's forces launched a military campaign to capture Tripoli from the internationally recognized government.

Russia considers a ceasefire in Libya a basic condition for the start of a political dialogue, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Dec. 31.

Speaking at a news conference in Moscow, Lavrov said no conditions must precede the cessation of hostilities.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a phone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss Syria and Libya, an official statement said on Dec. 29.

According to the statement issued by Turkey's Directorate of Communications, the two leaders also addressed the bilateral relations and regional developments.

Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) on Dec. 29 hit back at social media allegations on the presence of "Syrian elements" in the military headquarters in the capital.

A Turkish nationalist party announced Dec. 28 its support for the possible military deployment in Libya.

On Dec. 26, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said a motion on military support for Libya will be submitted to the Turkish parliament when it opens after recess.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu warned on Dec. 28 against attempts to create a situation in Libya similar to that in civil war-torn Syria.

Turkey will definitely stay at its observation posts monitoring a cease-fire in northwestern Syria, and its soldiers there have orders to respond to any acts of hostility, said Turkey's defense chief on Dec. 28.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has strongly criticized the government's willingness to send Turkish soldiers to a Libya mission, expressing his party's fierce opposition to any decision that would result in spilling the blood of Turkish soldiers abroad.

Libya's UN-recognized government on Dec. 27 bombarded forces and mercenaries loyal to military commander Khalifa Haftar, according to the media office of the Burkan Al-Ghadab (Volcano of Rage) operation.

Government of National Accord (GNA) forces shelled an armory belonging to Haftar's forces in Yarmouk district south of Tripoli.