Turkish Air Force Activity Linked to Libya Exposed over Mediterranean

Turkish aircraft have flown fighters and cargo to western Libya. (Reuters)
Turkish aircraft have flown fighters and cargo to western Libya. (Reuters)
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Turkish Air Force Activity Linked to Libya Exposed over Mediterranean

Turkish aircraft have flown fighters and cargo to western Libya. (Reuters)
Turkish aircraft have flown fighters and cargo to western Libya. (Reuters)

Turkish aircraft have been active over the eastern Mediterranean as the defense ministry announced Friday that its vessels and fighter jets will perform drills in the area.

The Turkish itamilradar website reported that three jets were detected as they flew towards western Libya in what was described as a “major mission”.

In a series of tweets, the website said the aircraft may have been transporting fighters or weapons from Turkey to Libya where Ankara supports the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).

The defense ministry only declared the drills after news of the unusual aircraft activity circulated on social media, said itamilradar.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s general prosecution recommended that a lawmaker be stripped of his immunity for revealing details of how Turkish intelligence officers were killed in Libya.

Opposition MP Umit Ozdag had held a press conference at parliament in February when he revealed the death of the officers in military operations in Libya.

The general prosecution said he had violated intelligence agency regulations when he disclosed the information.

The prosecution had previously arrested six journalists and lifted the immunity of another MP for the same reason.



Hezbollah Chief Urges Lebanese State to ‘Deal Firmly' with Israel’s Violations

FILE PHOTO: Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem delivers an address from an unknown location, November 29, 2024, in this still image from video. Al Manar TV/Reuters TV via REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem delivers an address from an unknown location, November 29, 2024, in this still image from video. Al Manar TV/Reuters TV via REUTERS
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Hezbollah Chief Urges Lebanese State to ‘Deal Firmly' with Israel’s Violations

FILE PHOTO: Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem delivers an address from an unknown location, November 29, 2024, in this still image from video. Al Manar TV/Reuters TV via REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem delivers an address from an unknown location, November 29, 2024, in this still image from video. Al Manar TV/Reuters TV via REUTERS

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Saturday called on the Lebanese state to “deal firmly” with Israeli violations.

Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in a conflict parallel to the Gaza war in November. That ceasefire, which was brokered by the United States and France, requires Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon within 60 days, and for Hezbollah to remove all its fighters and weapons from the south.

Both sides have since accused each other of breaching the ceasefire.

"Don't test our patience and I call on the Lebanese state to deal firmly with these violations that have exceeded 100," Qassem said.

He also congratulated Palestinians over the Gaza ceasefire deal, saying in a speech that it proved the "persistence of resistance" against Israel.

The remarks were the first in public by the leader of the Iran-backed Lebanese group since Israel and Hamas reached the accord on Wednesday.

"This deal, which was unchanged from what was proposed in May 2024, proves the persistence of resistance groups, which took what they wanted while Israel was not able to take what it sought," he said.
Qassem also referred to the election of Lebanon's new president, Joseph Aoun, who commanded the Lebanese military until parliament elected him as head of state on Jan.9.

"Our contribution as Hezbollah and the Amal movement led to the election of the new president with consensus," Qassem said.

The nomination of Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam had angered Hezbollah, which accused opponents of seeking to exclude it.

Salam was nominated by a majority of lawmakers last week to form a government but did not win the backing of the Shiite parties Hezbollah and Speaker Nabih Berri’s Amal Movement.

Salam said the formation of a new government would not be delayed, indicating a positive atmosphere in discussions over its composition.