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Turkey Prepares to Set Up Base in Misrata

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at the 6th Ordinary Convention in Antalya province, Turkey, March 3, 2018. (Presidential handout photo)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at the 6th Ordinary Convention in Antalya province, Turkey, March 3, 2018. (Presidential handout photo)
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Turkey Prepares to Set Up Base in Misrata

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at the 6th Ordinary Convention in Antalya province, Turkey, March 3, 2018. (Presidential handout photo)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at the 6th Ordinary Convention in Antalya province, Turkey, March 3, 2018. (Presidential handout photo)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is conducting talks with the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) for the possible use of the Misrata naval base and Al-Watiya airbase.

Turkish Naval Forces Commander Adm. Adnan Ozbal paid a visit to Libya and met Libyan Army's Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Sharif. They discussed the latest developments in Libya and the possibility of using Al-Watiya airbase and in addition to inaugurating a naval base in Misrata.

On November 27, Ankara and GNA signed two separate pacts, one that encompasses military cooperation and the other maritime boundaries of the two countries in the Eastern Mediterranean.

A Turkish business delegation is set to visit Libya within two weeks to assess how Turkey’s companies and banks can help rebuild the war-torn country and secure its energy needs, sources told Reuters.

Politicians could join the upcoming trip by what they called a “committee” of business representatives. They will craft a business plan and initially focus on meeting Libya’s energy needs and re-building and renewing its infrastructure, sources added.

Earlier, a senior Turkish delegation visited the GNA on June 18 to discuss the Libyan updates and the return of Turkish firms in Libya as well as energy and reconstruction projects.

Also, Erdogan expressed support to the "legitimate government" in Libya that is seeking the country’s unity. The president was speaking to the members of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) via videoconference.

He added that Turkey will not leave the fate of the Libyan people at the mercy of putschists and will continue to act in line with international law.

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Lebanese Judge Questions Former Top Security Chiefs over Beirut Port Blast

FILE - In this Aug. 5, 2020 file photo, a drone picture shows the destruction after an explosion at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)
FILE - In this Aug. 5, 2020 file photo, a drone picture shows the destruction after an explosion at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)
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Lebanese Judge Questions Former Top Security Chiefs over Beirut Port Blast

FILE - In this Aug. 5, 2020 file photo, a drone picture shows the destruction after an explosion at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)
FILE - In this Aug. 5, 2020 file photo, a drone picture shows the destruction after an explosion at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)

The Lebanese judge investigating the massive 2020 Beirut port explosion questioned two former security chiefs on Friday, including a former head of the General Security Directorate who appeared in court for the first time since being summoned nearly four years ago, according to four judicial and two security officials.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media. The hearings mark a rare breakthrough in the long-stalled probe, The Associated Press said.
Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim and former head of State Security Maj. Gen. Tony Saliba, are among several officials charged in connection with the blast that killed over 220 people. The specific charges have not been disclosed.​
Ibrahim appeared in court for the first time, where Judge Tarek Bitar questioned him about the operations of the General Security Directorate during his tenure and requested related documents, which Ibrahim’s lawyer is expected to submit next week.
Ibrahim, who headed the General Security Directorate between 2011 and 2023, is known for wide connections with local, regional and international figures, including the Iran-backed militant Hezbollah group, the Syrian government and Western nations, making him a key political mediator.
Ibrahim’s attorneys said in a statement that the former General Security chief appeared in court despite having previously filed a legal challenge against Judge Bitar and despite claiming that he was immune from prosecution.
His attorneys said he appeared as a “mark of respect for the families of the martyrs and victims, his belief in justice and truth, and his commitment to upholding legal procedures and the course of justice.”
Saliba, appearing in court for the fourth time, cooperated with the hearing, providing documentation pertaining to his role at State Security. After the hearing, Saliba described the proceedings as “positive" in a statement.
On Aug. 4, 2020, hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate detonated in a Beirut Port warehouse, killing at least 218 people, injuring more than 6,000 and devastating large swaths of the capital. The blast, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, caused billions of dollars in damage and sent shockwaves through the nation’s capital.
Following years of political obstruction, Bitar resumed the stalled investigation in mid-January, questioning port and customs employees, retired military officials, the former head of port security, the former army intelligence director, and 12 witnesses.
This development coincides with significant political changes in Lebanon, including the election of Joseph Aoun as president and the appointment of Nawaf Salam as prime minister. Both are perceived as outside the traditional political establishment, which includes many figures charged in the port explosion case.​
Several officials implicated in the investigation have accused Bitar of bias, refused to testify, and filed legal complaints against him.
Next week, Bitar is expected to question top former political leaders. Former Prime Minister Hassan Diab, who was in office at the time of the port explosion and is among those charged by Bitar, is scheduled to appear in court in May. His hearing will be followed by the questioning of four judges.
Meanwhile, a French delegation is expected to submit their findings from their investigation into the explosion later in April. France initiated its own probe into the explosion in 2020 after three French nationals were killed in the blast. However, French judges have faced obstacles accessing documents from the Lebanese investigation, which has been hindered by political interference.