Military history of Libya

Turkey's bill allowing troop deployment in Libya marks a dangerous escalation in the North African country's civil war and severely threatens stability in the region, a joint statement by Greece, Israel and Cyprus said late on Thursday.

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.

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias is visiting Libya, where he is expected to meet with Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, leader of the Libyan National Army fighting the UN-recognized Libyan government, Arab media report.

Dendias left earlier Sunday from the Elefsina military airport, headed to Benghazi.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Turkey will not stay silent over Russian-backed mercenaries supporting Khalifa Haftar in Libya, as Moscow voiced concerns over possible Turkish military deployment to Libya in support of Haftar's enemies.

Libya's internationally-recognized government has accepted an offer from Turkey for military and logistical support as it faces an offensive led by Libyan militia commander General Khalifa Haftar, Al Jazeera reported Thursday citing sources.

The presidents of Russia and France discussed the ongoing crisis in Libya plus Syria and Ukraine over the phone, Russia's state-run TASS news agency said on Dec. 17.

Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron stressed the importance of resolving the Libyan crisis through diplomacy, the agency reported.

Six Turks detained in Libya by forces loyal to Commander Khalifa Haftar have been released, Turkey's foreign ministry said on July 1, a day after it warned the militia would become a "legitimate target" unless they were released immediately.

Turkey has taken all measures against possible hostile moves or threats, country's defense minister said on June 30, referring to threats by the spokesman of Khalifa Haftar's forces in Libya.

The White House said on April 19 that President Donald Trump spoke by phone earlier in the week and discussed "ongoing counterterrorism efforts" with Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar, leader of a military assault on the capital Tripoli in opposition to the internationally recognized government.

Libyan forces under Khalifa Haftar battled their way to the south of Tripoli on April 5, prompting the U.N. Security Council and the G7 to demand a halt to the military advance on the capital.