Tripoli

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.

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.

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.

Turkey believes that Tunisia will contribute to efforts to promote stability in its eastern neighbor Libya, Turkey's president said on
Dec. 25.

Any plan excluding Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean is impossible, and Turkey will not shrink from steps needed to stand with the Libyan government and its people, said Turkey's presidential spokesman on Dec. 24. 

Moscow hosted expert consultations of Russian and Turkish diplomats on Libya on Dec. 23, Russian Foreign Ministry said on Dec. 24.

The talks were held at the level of deputy foreign ministers, Russia's Mikhail Bogdanov and Turkey's Sedat Önal headed the delegations, the ministry said in a statement published on its official website.

Turkey's parliament approved a security and military deal with Libya's UN-supported government Saturday  on the heels of a controversial maritime agreement earlier this month that has drawn international ire.

The deal allows Turkey to provide military training and equipment at the request of the Libyan government that controls the capital, Tripoli, and some of the country's west.

The Turkish parliament on Dec. 21 ratified a motion on the approval of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on security and military cooperation with Libya.

On Nov. 27, Ankara and Tripoli signed two separate MoUs; one on military cooperation and the other on maritime boundaries of countries in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The activation by Libya's Tripoli-based government of a deal with Turkey that foresees military assistance by Ankara has placed major powers, not least Washington, on edge regarding its regional ramifications. 

In a statement, the US State Department urged all countries to "refrain from exacerbating civil conflict." 

Libya's internationally recognized government said on Dec. 19 that it has ratified a security and military cooperation deal it agreed with Turkey last month, opening the way for potential military help from Ankara.

The Government of National Accord (GNA) said in a statement that the memorandum of understanding has been ratified but did not give further details.