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Turkish Intelligence Moves to ‘Heal the Rift’ in Libya

Dbeibeh received Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin in Tripoli on Thursday. (Turkish media)
Dbeibeh received Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin in Tripoli on Thursday. (Turkish media)
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Turkish Intelligence Moves to ‘Heal the Rift’ in Libya

Dbeibeh received Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin in Tripoli on Thursday. (Turkish media)
Dbeibeh received Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin in Tripoli on Thursday. (Turkish media)

The head of Turkish intelligence, Ibrahim Kalin, held discussions with Libyan officials in Tripoli to explore potential solutions through an inclusive national dialogue aimed at preserving the unity and stability of Libya.

Kalin, accompanied by his deputy Cemalettin Celik, visited Tripoli on Thursday, where they held talks with Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, the head of the National Unity Government, as well as members of the Libyan Presidential Council, focusing on resolving internal conflicts, with Kalin reaffirming his country’s commitment to Libya’s unity and stability.

Kalin’s visit followed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s trip to Ankara, where he discussed the situation in Libya with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and key officials.

Libya had been a major point of contention between the two nations, but both sides agreed to continue negotiations. The talks emphasized the need for foreign forces and mercenaries to withdraw, and for presidential and parliamentary elections to be held, ensuring Libya’s territorial integrity and stability. Sisi reiterated these points during a joint press conference with Erdogan on Wednesday.

Since 2020, Türkiye has deployed thousands of troops and Syrian mercenaries from pro-Turkish factions to Libya under a security and military cooperation agreement signed with the previous Government of National Accord (GNA), led by Fayez al-Sarraj, on Nov. 27, 2019, in Istanbul.

Kalin’s visit also coincided with efforts by Libya’s rival authorities to de-escalate a political crisis, particularly surrounding the potential ouster of Central Bank Governor Sadiq al-Kabir, who has historically had close ties with Ankara.

During his meeting with the head of Turkish intelligence, Dbeibeh addressed bilateral relations and mutual interests, including current developments in the Middle East, notably the situation in Gaza, according to a statement from the National Unity Government.

Turkish security sources noted that the discussions emphasized the importance of joint efforts to support regional stability and civilian protection, with a focus on strengthening cooperation in political and security matters.

Before meeting with Dbeibeh, Kalin and Celik also held talks with Libyan Presidential Council deputies Abdullah al-Lafi and Musa al-Koni. They discussed Libya’s recent political developments and ways to bolster stability and advance the political process.

A statement from the Presidential Council emphasized that Libyan officials stressed the need for a unified national will to address current challenges.

The National Unity Government noted that Kalin and Dbeibeh’s meeting centered on bilateral relations and shared concerns, particularly developments in Gaza. Both parties emphasized the need for joint efforts to enhance regional stability and protect civilians, with a focus on deepening political and security cooperation.

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Arab World

Barzani Calls for Talks with PUK to Resolve Kurdistan Political Crisis

New Kurdish parliament speaker Vala Fareed (L) addresses a press conference after the session of Kurdistan's regional parliament, in Erbil on November 4, 2026. (AFP)
New Kurdish parliament speaker Vala Fareed (L) addresses a press conference after the session of Kurdistan's regional parliament, in Erbil on November 4, 2026. (AFP)
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Barzani Calls for Talks with PUK to Resolve Kurdistan Political Crisis

New Kurdish parliament speaker Vala Fareed (L) addresses a press conference after the session of Kurdistan's regional parliament, in Erbil on November 4, 2026. (AFP)
New Kurdish parliament speaker Vala Fareed (L) addresses a press conference after the session of Kurdistan's regional parliament, in Erbil on November 4, 2026. (AFP)

Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani on Monday called on the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), led by Bafel Talabani, to enter talks aimed at resolving their differences and ending the political crisis in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region.

His appeal came five days after the regional parliament convened for its first session in nearly two years, which the PUK boycotted, deepening longstanding divisions between the two parties that dominate Kurdish politics.

“Amid the current political developments and circumstances, all parties must bear in mind that the interests of the people of Kurdistan are greater than, and take precedence over, any other interest or objective,” Barzani declared.

“Based on this principle, I invite our brothers in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan to sit down at the negotiating table with the Kurdistan Democratic Party to resolve the problems and put an end to the political crisis in the Kurdistan Region.”

He also expressed a “sincere desire” for other political parties to participate in the political process and work together to form a broad-based national government that meets the demands and aspirations of the Kurdish people.

Delicate balance of power

The Kurdistan Region’s parliament reconvened last Wednesday after nearly two years of paralysis caused by disputes between the KDP and PUK.

Lawmakers elected a speaker, deputy speaker and parliamentary secretary, all three aligned with the KDP, prompting strong objections from the PUK.

Although the KDP holds 39 of the legislature’s 100 seats, compared with the PUK’s 23, power-sharing arrangements in the region have traditionally reflected the parties’ territorial influence rather than parliamentary representation alone.

The KDP dominates the Erbil and Duhok provinces, while the PUK exercises extensive influence over Sulaymaniyah, Halabja and other parts of the region.

PUK political bureau member Yousif Goran said the region’s political system could not be governed by parliamentary numbers alone.

“The Kurdistan Region is not merely a handful of parliamentary seats that can be added up mathematically. It is a political experiment founded on balance and a complex partnership,” he explained.

“Any attempt to run its institutions without an understanding between the two main forces opens the door to a deep crisis,” he warned.

‘Coup’

Despite holding several senior positions in Iraq’s federal government, particularly the presidency, as well as ministerial and other high-ranking posts in the Kurdistan Region, the PUK viewed the KDP’s decision to convene parliament as a breach of previous agreements.

A senior PUK official maintained that the two parties had agreed to settle all outstanding disputes over the distribution of positions before holding the parliamentary session.

In response, the PUK announced a series of retaliatory measures, refusing to recognize the session’s legitimacy and denouncing it as “a coup against legitimacy” and a unilateral move.

The party threatened to withdraw from the Kurdistan Regional Government, recall its representatives from the regional presidency and pull out of other joint institutions.

It also raised the possibility of dividing the region by establishing a separate administration in areas under its influence, particularly the Sulaymaniyah province and its surroundings.

The PUK further decided to challenge the parliamentary session before Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court in Baghdad, contesting its legality and legitimacy.

Despite Masoud Barzani’s latest invitation, observers remain skeptical that the two parties can reach a mutually acceptable agreement in the near term, citing their long history of rivalry and conflict.

Arab World

Yemen on Iran Foreign Ministry Statement: Political and Media Cover for Terrorist Houthis

Yemen's Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba speaks during a plenary session of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Manama Dialogue 2026 in Manama on October 31, 2026. (AFP)
Yemen's Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba speaks during a plenary session of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Manama Dialogue 2026 in Manama on October 31, 2026. (AFP)
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Yemen on Iran Foreign Ministry Statement: Political and Media Cover for Terrorist Houthis

Yemen's Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba speaks during a plenary session of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Manama Dialogue 2026 in Manama on October 31, 2026. (AFP)
Yemen's Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba speaks during a plenary session of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Manama Dialogue 2026 in Manama on October 31, 2026. (AFP)

Yemen’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates strongly condemned on Monday the statement by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Yemen, with its “misleading allegations and blatant interference in the internal affairs” of the country.

It deemed it a “transparent attempt to provide political and media cover for the terrorist Houthi militia, and to disclaim the Iranian regime’s responsibility for prolonging the war and deepening the humanitarian tragedy of the Yemeni people.”

The ministry statement came in response to an Iranian statement adopting the Houthi narrative about the shelling of a market in the al-Waziyah district, west of Taiz, an incident the Yemeni government accused the Houthis of orchestrating.

“The Iranian statement lays bare Tehran’s open adoption of the putschist militia’s narrative and its justification of the militia’s practices, in parallel with the findings of Yemeni agencies that Iranian interference has evolved from financing, arming and training into direct participation in the planning and management of operations,” said the Yemeni ministry.

“The ministry regards this pairing of military support on the ground with diplomatic cover in international forums as further evidence of the true nature of the Iranian role in undermining the Yemeni state and threatening the security of the region and its waterways,” it added.

“The ministry rejects the Iranian regime’s exploitation of the blood of the victims of the Souq Al-Hadarah crime in al-Waziyah district, or of any other area, to promote accusations that contradict what the competent Yemeni authorities have announced, including their call for independent investigations into the Houthi militia’s violations of human rights and international law,” it continued.

The ministry recalled the Ministry of Interior’s announcement of the presence of 21 foreign experts working with the Houthi militia, including 14 from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and seven from Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

“Their tasks span command and control and the management of operations; work on ballistic missiles, drones and electronic warfare; the smuggling of military components; and the coordination of maritime operations, including the selection of commercial vessels for targeting - together constituting a fully-fledged general staff whose role goes beyond training to the supervision, planning and direction of operations, for which Yemenis pay the price with their lives, their security and their livelihoods,” said the ministry.

“By arming the Houthi militia and supplying it with experts, Tehran enables it to pursue its terrorism in Yemen - abducting, killing and terrorizing civilians, shelling cities and civilian facilities, and besieging and starving the population - alongside its repeated attacks on the territory Saudi Arabia, on commercial shipping, and on navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait,” it went on to say.

“This interference embodies a pattern the Iranian regime has long pursued in undermining the security of the region’s states: financing rogue armed groups that contest national governments’ exclusive authority over the use of force and over decisions of war and peace,” it added.

The ministry recalled that the arms embargo imposed under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216 and expanded under Resolution 2624 to cover the Houthis as an entity, encompasses weapons, equipment, technical assistance, training and financing related to military activities.

The ministry stressed that “Iran’s own interests, its security and the future of its relations in the region require respect for the sovereignty of states, the building of good-neighborly relations founded on shared interests and non-interference in internal affairs, and the abandonment of its policy of arming the subversive groups affiliated with it.”

“The Iranian regime would be far better served devoting its country’s resources and wealth to improving the livelihood of the Iranian people and meeting their needs for development, services and employment, rather than squandering them on arms and smuggling networks and on destabilizing the region,” it said.

Furthermore, the ministry noted that “throughout 12 years of a war ignited by the Houthi militia with its backing, the Iranian regime has offered the Yemeni people nothing but missiles, suicide drones, explosive-laden boats and experts of destruction, while our brothers in Saudi Arabia have provided invaluable relief, humanitarian and development assistance, together with countless facilitations for Yemeni expatriates whose work and remittances keep millions alive.”

“Respect for Yemen’s sovereignty begins with halting the arming of the militias, withdrawing the experts, and ceasing interference in Yemen’s national decision-making - and that Tehran’s professed concern for the lives of Yemenis requires, first of all, that it stop wielding the very tools that prolong their suffering and deepen the destruction,” demanded the ministry.

Arab World

Iraqi PM Visited Iran Secretly to ‘Ease Tensions and Defuse War’

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi meet in Iran in July. (Iraqi PM's office)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi meet in Iran in July. (Iraqi PM's office)
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Iraqi PM Visited Iran Secretly to ‘Ease Tensions and Defuse War’

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi meet in Iran in July. (Iraqi PM's office)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi meet in Iran in July. (Iraqi PM's office)

Iraqi Ambassador to Iran Yasser Abdul-Zahra al-Hajjaj confirmed on Monday Iranian media reports regarding a "secret visit" by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to Iran last Friday. This marks al-Zaidi's second visit to the country, following an official visit on July 23.

In statements to the official Iraqi News Agency, al-Hajjaj said that al-Zaidi’s visit to Iran "was unannounced and aims to discuss ways to de-escalate tensions and defusing the threat of war in the region."

He added: “Iraq is not on the margins of regional developments, but is rather moving effectively in accordance with its supreme national interests, under the leadership of PM al-Zaidi, dedicating its diplomatic efforts to fostering de-escalation, preventing escalation, and strengthening regional stability.”

An informed source had previously confirmed to Iran's Fars News Agency that al-Zaidi carried out a visit lasting several hours to Tehran last Friday, during which he met with the head of the Iranian negotiating delegation, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, with discussions focusing on Iraq's efforts to end the war between Iran and the United States.

Ghalibaf commended Iraq's initiatives and detailed a two-day Iranian proposal, stressing that Washington must respect Tehran's rights under the plan to advance the negotiations, source told the agency.

The talks did not address any other issues.

While no official statement has been issued by the Iraqi PM's office about the visit, the news of its confidential nature has raised eyebrows among some observers.

The surprise stems from the fact that "declared Iraqi diplomacy has not engaged in known de-escalation and mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, unlike the steps taken by countries such as Pakistan, Qatar, Oman, and others," according to a source close to the ruling Coordination Framework who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat.

The source did not rule out that the visit may be connected to US President Donald Trump’s phone call with al-Zaidi last Thursday, followed by the PM’s meeting with US envoy Tom Barrack on the same day.

However, the source noted it remains unknown whether the trip was a personal initiative by al-Zaidi, a request from the Coordination Framework, or at the behest of the US or Iran.