Turkey has been accused of sending more mercenaries to Libya despite an agreement between the two rival factions in the Libyan civil war calling for Ankara to withdraw them. As the participants in the UN-sponsored Libyan dialogue prepare for a new vote Monday on a mechanism for electing the new authority in the country, there was an acceleration in the movement of Turkish military cargo flights to western Libya, amid information about Ankara’s resumption of sending mercenaries despite the agreement between the Libyan National Army and Government of National Accord last month to withdraw them from Libya within three months. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said that sources revealed Turkey has stepped up its military involvement in Libya and will resume sending mercenaries to Libya. According to sources, Ankara intends to send a new batch of Syrian fighters to Libya in the next few days, despite the ongoing negotiations for a political solution after the agreement on the ceasefire between Libyan parties.
Meanwhile, Libyans especially in Tripoli and Misrata perceive the Turkish expansion as invasive and are prepared to fight its “colonial” intervention until its defeat, in a clear reference to the defeat of the Ottoman rule in Libya. Libyans identify Turkish President Erdoğan as one obsessed with dreams of restoring the Ottoman era and has found through his alliance with al-Sarraj a way to expand his military and political authority. Erdoğan’s aspirations of dominance and control are unquenchable and are clearly evident in his attempts to give Turkish names to Libyan streets, cities, towns and villages. His latest escalations in Tripoli, Tarhouna, Beni Walid, al-Watiya base in addition to all the nation’s western cities further demonstrate his atrocious plan to displace thousands of Libyans and force them out of their homes as he destroyed their hospitals, schools, and infrastructure, distorted their history, and allowed terrorists and mercenaries to take over their lands.
The Libyans have deemed the Turkish presence unsolicited and have exposed its attempts to control Libya and steal its wealth and riches. If history holds any significance, dreams of a return to an Ottoman era will be undoubtedly shattered in Libya.
