Turkish Opposition Defends Journalists over Death Report of Intel Member in Libya

Boy welcoming Turkish troops with their national flag (Reuters)
Boy welcoming Turkish troops with their national flag (Reuters)
TT
20

Turkish Opposition Defends Journalists over Death Report of Intel Member in Libya

Boy welcoming Turkish troops with their national flag (Reuters)
Boy welcoming Turkish troops with their national flag (Reuters)

Head of the Republican People's Party‎ (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu demanded the immediate release of journalists detained on the background of reporting the death of Turkish intelligence agent in Libya and his secret burial in Turkey.

Last March, Turkish authorities arrested six journalists for reporting the death of a member of the Turkish Intelligence Service in Libya. A news website also posted a video which it said was for the secret burial ceremony in Manisa, west of Turkey.

Kilicdaroglu, who is head of Turkey’s largest opposition party, strongly condemned the indictment against the journalists who were arrested for “violating the intelligence law” and sentenced between seven to 18 years.

Meanwhile, Turkey called on the international community to take immediate action after the Libyan National Army (LNA) commander, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, announced himself as “ruler of Libya.”

Ankara accused Haftar of seeking to “create a military dictatorship” and renewed its support to the Government of National Accord (GNA), chaired by Fayez al-Sarraj.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Haftar's announcement of himself as governor "confirms his rejection of political dialogue and international efforts, including the results of the Berlin Conference, and again shows his goal of establishing a military dictatorship in Libya."

The Foreign Ministry issued a statement indicating that this announcement demonstrated, once again, that Haftar “does not seek a political solution to the crisis in Libya.”

It said Haftar worsened the humanitarian situation with his attacks in Libya, and blocked oil production, water supply, and even "prevented the supply of medical equipment needed by the Libyan people" during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The statement urged the international community to respond to Haftar, who undoubtedly exposed his intention to establish a junta regime in Libya.

It asserted that Turkey will continue to stand by the brotherly Libyan people in defending GNA and all other legitimate institutions of Libya.

Also, Justice and Development (AK) Party accused Haftar of being a coup plotter and asserted Turkey’s continuous support to the GNA.

“Haftar attempted a coup. He tries to give himself some authorities that have no legal basis,” said AK’s spokesman Omer Celik.

Speaking at a press videoconference after the party’s board meeting, Celik stressed that Turkey will stand behind the UN-recognized government and continue to support them for the sake of Libyan people's future.



Kurdish Leaderships Reveal Details of Plan to Merge with Syrian Army

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi. (Reuters)
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi. (Reuters)
TT
20

Kurdish Leaderships Reveal Details of Plan to Merge with Syrian Army

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi. (Reuters)
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi. (Reuters)

Sources close to the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said the group’s decision to merge its military and security bodies with those of the Kurdish Autonomous Administration is a serious step toward talks with Damascus.

The move, announced late Monday, aims to integrate the SDF into the Syrian army.

SDF commander Mazloum Abdi invited Syrian interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa to visit SDF-held areas in northeastern Syria, congratulating him on leading the country’s transition.

The SDF had published the minutes of a three-way meeting that included Abdi along with leaders from the group’s political wing, the Syrian Democratic Council, and the executive administration of the Autonomous Administration.

The meeting resulted in an agreement to merge the SDF’s military and security institutions with the security bodies of the Autonomous Administration under the Syrian army’s structure.

It also approved the reactivation of state-run civil and service institutions in northeastern Syria and the withdrawal of non-Syrian foreign fighters from SDF ranks and areas under its control as part of efforts to bolster national sovereignty and stability.

Abu Omar Al-Idlibi, a senior commander in the SDF, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the meeting concluded with an understanding that the SDF would be integrated into Syria’s Ministry of Defense as a single unit, potentially within a corps or as part of the ministry’s eastern command.

However, he noted that discussions were still in their early stages and that oil and gas fields in northeastern Syria were not on the agenda at this stage, but could be addressed in future talks.

Al-Idlibi described the move as an effort to unify forces and strengthen national unity, while reviving state-run civil and service institutions in the northeast to improve public services and living conditions.

The meeting emphasized the need to boost coordination with Damascus, increase dialogue on national issues, and reaffirm Syria’s territorial integrity.

Al-Idlibi said the latest decisions would support the integration of local forces into the Syrian army, bolster its defense capabilities, and facilitate the return of displaced people to their hometowns, particularly those from areas affected by Turkish military operations.