عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Turkey Defies International Warnings, Continues Violating Arms Embargo on Libya

GNA members are seen after taking control of al-Watiya airbase, southwest of Tripoli, Libya, May 18, 2020. Reuters
GNA members are seen after taking control of al-Watiya airbase, southwest of Tripoli, Libya, May 18, 2020. Reuters
TT
TT

Turkey Defies International Warnings, Continues Violating Arms Embargo on Libya

GNA members are seen after taking control of al-Watiya airbase, southwest of Tripoli, Libya, May 18, 2020. Reuters
GNA members are seen after taking control of al-Watiya airbase, southwest of Tripoli, Libya, May 18, 2020. Reuters

Turkey continues to violate the arms embargo on Libya by sending arms and mercenaries to support Fayez al-Sarraj’s Government of National Accord despite international warnings.

According to Italy’s ItaMilRadar website, which specializes in tracking military flights over the Mediterranean, a Turkish Air Force Lockheed C-130B left al-Watiya Air Base for Turkey on Saturday.

The air force departed from Libya on Friday returning to Turkey, the website noted.

Meanwhile, reports have stated that the new shipment included four drones and advanced medium and light weapons, including M4 rifles.

In news titled “the airlift between Turkey and western Libya continues,” the website pointed out that “in recent weeks the flights have almost always been directed to this air base instead of to Tripoli or Misrata as happened during the first days of the Turkish airlift.”

Meanwhile, Turkish reports have revealed that Turkey had repaired and developed al-Watiya military base in western Libya, a month after its destruction in strikes by unidentified warplanes.

They said the base is now prepared to receive planes to launch attacks and airstrikes on Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) sites in Sirte and Jufra.

The LNA, however, has deployed the Russian S-300 system to thwart any attacks by Turkish aircraft.

Perpetrator of al-Watiya base strike hasn’t yet been revealed. It came after Turkey’s announcement to supply the military base with missile air defense systems.

According to the same reports, Turkey sent KORAL Electronic Warfare System to Libya’s base, in addition to defense systems and radars.

It continues to send weapons to the GNA, while accusing other countries, including Russia and the UAE, of sending weapons to the LNA.

In other news, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the European Union marine mission to supervise the Libyan arms embargo (Irini mission) is a “biased operation.”

In a visit to Tripoli on Thursday, Cavusoglu said Germany is the host of the Berlin conference, so it needs to be neutral and objective.

“If it [Germany] takes part in a biased operation, it will lose its impartiality,” he added.

His remarks were in reference to the German frigate, “Hamburg,” which set sail from Wilhelmshaven in northern Germany on Tuesday. It is carrying 250 soldiers and has departed at the start of a five-month mission.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Lebanon’s War Losses Double Compared to 2006

Rescuers and aid workers search for survivors at the site of an Israeli airstrike in eastern Lebanon (AFP)
Rescuers and aid workers search for survivors at the site of an Israeli airstrike in eastern Lebanon (AFP)
TT
TT

Lebanon’s War Losses Double Compared to 2006

Rescuers and aid workers search for survivors at the site of an Israeli airstrike in eastern Lebanon (AFP)
Rescuers and aid workers search for survivors at the site of an Israeli airstrike in eastern Lebanon (AFP)

A comparison of the current human and material losses from the ongoing Hezbollah-Israel conflict with those from the July 2006 war shows that current losses have doubled.

Experts warn that the reconstruction funds and aid pledged to Lebanon 18 years ago may have limited impact once the war ends.

Total Losses

Mohammad Shamseddine, a researcher from Information International, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the death toll has risen from 900 in 2006 to 2,865 in the current conflict (as of October 31, 2024), with the number increasing daily. The number of wounded was 4,000 in 2006, but it has now exceeded 13,047.

In 2006, 600,000 people were displaced, while today that number has surpassed 1.2 million. Of these, 189,174 are in shelters. A total of 358,133 Syrians and 172,604 Lebanese have fled to Syria, and 120,000 have sought refuge in other countries.

Lebanese Economy and Trade Minister Amin Salam estimated that Lebanon’s total economic losses from the current conflict have reached $20 billion. However, economic associations report direct losses between $10 billion and $12 billion, covering damage to key sectors, homes, buildings, and infrastructure.

These figures align with estimates from Shamseddine, who believes direct and indirect losses are around $10 billion.

Of this, $4 billion occurred from October 8, 2023, to September 17, 2024 (when the conflict was mostly limited to the south), and $7 billion from September 17 to October 31, 2024, after Israel expanded the war. For comparison, losses during the 2006 war totaled $5.3 billion.

In 2006, infrastructure damage was valued at $900 million, higher than the current war's $570 million in infrastructure losses.

Housing losses in 2006 totaled $2.2 billion, while they have now surpassed $4.26 billion. Mohammad Shamseddine points out that commercial losses were similar in both conflicts, at $4.7 million.

Agricultural and environmental losses in 2006 were $450 million, but now exceed $900 million. Indirect economic damages were $1.2 billion in 2006, while they have now surpassed $3.38 billion.

One notable difference is the number of airstrikes: from October 8, 2023, to October 31, 2024, there were 11,647, compared to just 3,670 during the 33-day 2006 war.