عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Libyan National Army Destroys Plan to Build Turkish Base in Misrata

Forces loyal to the GNA are seen in Misrata, Libya. (Reuters)
Forces loyal to the GNA are seen in Misrata, Libya. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Libyan National Army Destroys Plan to Build Turkish Base in Misrata

Forces loyal to the GNA are seen in Misrata, Libya. (Reuters)
Forces loyal to the GNA are seen in Misrata, Libya. (Reuters)

The Libyan National Army intensified Sunday its airstrikes against pro-Government of National Accord militias in Tripoli and Misrata.

In a statement, the LNA said that its raids destroyed a plan to build a Turkish base near the air force academy in Misrata.

“The construction of a military base for a foreign country such as Turkey with its poor history with the Libyan people is great treason against the independence of the nation,” it added.

The development is another crime committed by the Misrata militias and their backers, the Muslim Brotherhood, it stated.

The LNA will not tolerate such actions, it warned.

The army struck hangars used by Turkish drones, saying: “Misrata city’s contribution to the war effort against the operation to liberate Tripoli makes it a legitimate aerial target.”

The LNA had launched an operation to cleanse Tripoli of pro-GNA militias in April.

The army said Misrata will no longer be a target once it abandons its support to the militias.

Images circulated online showed a Turkish military base in Misrata that was housing drones. Sources said the facility, which was neutralized, was being set up as a possible permanent Turkish base similar to its positions in Syria.

Separately, the United Nations mission in Libya condemned on Sunday the LNA strikes against the airport of Zuwara, a town west of Tripoli.

“The mission renews its condemnation of the attacks conducted by the LNA forces against Zuwara airport, which cause serious damage,” it said, adding that the runway had been damaged.

Earlier this month, the LNA said it had twice bombed the airport, saying it had targeted hangars used by Turkish drones.

The UN mission said it had visited Zuwara airport and found no military infrastructure or assets.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Aoun Leading Efforts to Avert Shiite Boycott of New Lebanese Govt

A handout photo made available by the Lebanese Presidency Press Office shows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (C) attending a meeting with Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, 14 January 2025. (Lebanese Presidency Press Office)
A handout photo made available by the Lebanese Presidency Press Office shows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (C) attending a meeting with Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, 14 January 2025. (Lebanese Presidency Press Office)
TT
TT

Aoun Leading Efforts to Avert Shiite Boycott of New Lebanese Govt

A handout photo made available by the Lebanese Presidency Press Office shows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (C) attending a meeting with Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, 14 January 2025. (Lebanese Presidency Press Office)
A handout photo made available by the Lebanese Presidency Press Office shows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (C) attending a meeting with Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, 14 January 2025. (Lebanese Presidency Press Office)

Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam arrived in Beirut on Tuesday to kick off parliamentary consultations to form a new government.

He assured that it will “not exclude anyone”, but seek “unity and partnership.”

Asharq Al-Awsat learned that President Joseph Aoun is leading efforts to avert a Shiite boycott of the new government after the “Shiite duo” of the Hezbollah and Amal movement, which is led by parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, refrained from naming Salam for the position of PM during Monday’s consultations.

Their abstention has raised fears that the new government will not be constitutional without the representation of the largest Shiite parties in the country.

Reports have said that the duo may boycott the parliamentary consultations to form a government that Salam will hold on Wednesday.

Sources said the duo may skip the first day of talks, which will conclude on Thursday, to demonstrate its “annoyance” with the developments.

Berri, however, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the “situation is not that negative”. He did not elaborate on the duo’s next steps.

Moreover, Asharq Al-Awsat learned that French President Macron had even intervened to avoid a dispute over the government, holding telephone talks with Aoun and Berri.

Salam’s appointment as prime minister came as a major shock given the large number of votes he won from the parliamentary blocs, compared to his predecessor Najib Mikati and against the will of the Shiite duo. In past years, Hezbollah has repeatedly blocked Salam from becoming prime minister.

Aoun stressed the need to “avoid placing obstacles in the government formation process.”

Aoun held a meeting with Salam at the presidential palace on Tuesday before later being joined by Berri, who left the palace without making a statement.

After the talks, Salam spoke before reporters to express his gratitude to parliament and the people for entrusting him with the “difficult task of serving Lebanon” and “achieving the people’s dreams.”

“It is time to open a new chapter that is rooted in justice, security, progress and opportunity, so that Lebanon can be a nation of free people who are equal under their rights,” he added.

On the possible boycott of the Shiite duo, he said he was against exclusion and on the contrary supported unity. “This is my sincere call, and my hands are extended to everyone,” he added.

The formation of a government in Lebanon often takes months due to political wrangling.

Aoun said on Tuesday that Lebanon has a “very major opportunity that we should all seize.”

He received a delegation from the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council.

“Obstacles must not be placed in the formation process,” he urged. “We must send positive signals to the international community that Lebanon can govern itself, carry out reconstruction transparently and build the state that we are all calling for.”

“If one segment of Lebanon is broken, then the whole country will break,” he stressed, saying Monday’s consultations to appoint Salam were a democratic process and that the public interest remains the top priority.

Aoun, who was elected last week, added that he has declined visits from well-wishers over his election “out of respect for the martyrs” who were killed during Israel’s war on Lebanon, which ended with a ceasefire in November.