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Libya's Bashagha in Turkey to Convince Dbeibah to Step Down

UN Special Adviser Stephanie Williams meets with Dbeibah on Wednesday. (Stephanie Williams via Twitter)
UN Special Adviser Stephanie Williams meets with Dbeibah on Wednesday. (Stephanie Williams via Twitter)
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Libya's Bashagha in Turkey to Convince Dbeibah to Step Down

UN Special Adviser Stephanie Williams meets with Dbeibah on Wednesday. (Stephanie Williams via Twitter)
UN Special Adviser Stephanie Williams meets with Dbeibah on Wednesday. (Stephanie Williams via Twitter)

Fathi Bashagha, head of Libya's Government of Stability, kicked off on Wednesday a surprise visit to Turkey.

His office did not announce the trip and Turkish authorities did not comment on it.

Sources said Bashagha traveled at the head of a government delegation to Ankara after receiving an official invitation. This would mark his second visit to Turkey since taking office.

He is seeking Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's support to persuade head of the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah to step down in his favor.

Libya has been plunged in stalemate over control of the capital Tripoli where the GNU refuses to hand over power after the east-based parliament appointed Bashagha in March.

Dbeibah's government was installed last year to run all of Libya for an interim period as part of a peace process that was meant to include national elections in December.

However, after the election process collapsed amid disputes over the rules, the parliament said Dbeibah's term had expired and moved to appoint its own administration.

Dbeibah says his government is still valid and that he will hand over power only after an election.

Meanwhile, head of the Presidency Council Mohammed al-Menfi stressed the need to prioritize national interests.

"Consensus is key to reaching a final solution to the crisis and achieving peace, and rebuilding the state on just and legal grounds," he said during a meeting in Tripoli with the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Libya, Stephanie Williams.

Williams said she used the opportunity to brief Menfi on the next meeting of the Joint House of Representatives and High Council of State Committee that will be reconvened in Cairo on May 15 with the objective to rebuild consensus on a firm constitutional and electoral track to enable the holding of national elections as soon as possible.

On Wednesday, Williams said she met with Dbeibah in Tripoli at his request. She "emphasized the importance of ensuring that national elections take place on the basis of a sound constitutional framework within the shortest timeframe possible in order to meet the aspirations of the Libyan people."

She added that she briefed him on her recent travels and consultations with the international community, as well as her discussions with a range of Libyan stakeholders in the lead-up to the second round of talks between the House of Representatives and the High Council of State.

She also "highlighted the absolute necessity of preserving calm on the ground in order to allow space for the political negotiations to proceed."

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Arab World

Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Thursday called on major powers to “exert greater efforts to end the war in Palestine and Lebanon.” Meanwhile, an Iraqi government official urged the United States to “prevent any attacks on the country,” referring to potential Israeli strikes.
During a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Al-Sudani stressed the importance of ensuring the conflict does not escalate “to a level that threatens regional and global stability.”
The Iraqi prime minister’s appeal comes amid reports suggesting that Israel may launch strikes on Iraq in retaliation for attacks by Iraqi armed factions targeting Israeli positions.
The Iraqi government is striving to assert its exclusive authority over weapons and war-related decisions. However, armed factions affiliated with the Axis of Resistance openly claim responsibility for near-daily rocket attacks on Israel. This has provided Israel with a justification for potentially targeting Iraqi territory, especially after it filed a complaint with the UN Security Council against six Iraqi factions and held Baghdad responsible for the attacks.
These factions have also openly declared their involvement in the ongoing conflict with Israel in Lebanon and Gaza. The Iraqi government has been unable to take decisive action to halt the activities of these factions, which many believe could soon expose Iraq to an Israeli strike.
According to media reports, Washington has warned Baghdad that Israeli airstrikes on Iraq are “imminent” unless the Iraqi government curtails attacks by Iranian-backed factions on Israel. The Times of Israel cited sources indicating that the United States has “exhausted all means of pressure on Israel” and urged Iraq to act swiftly to prevent such attacks.
Despite repeated assurances from the Iraqi government—including its recent adoption of 12 measures by the National Security Council to counter Israeli threats and complaints—the situation remains tense. These measures include monitoring Iraq’s western borders, preventing factions from launching attacks, and maintaining Iraq’s neutrality in the ongoing conflict.
On Wednesday, Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi, Secretary-General of Kata’ib Hezbollah, made a striking statement on the role of resistance factions in the war and their commitment to the Unity of Fronts doctrine frequently mentioned by Axis of Resistance groups.
In an interview published by the faction’s media arm, Al-Hamidawi said: “The continuity of the Unity of Fronts concept depends on what the Lebanese Hezbollah decides.”
Al-Hamidawi also emphasized that resistance factions are constantly coordinating internally and with external partners such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Palestinian resistance leaders.
“We aim to ensure that the Palestinian people are not left alone and that the Unity of Fronts remains intact,” he stated.
Fadi Al-Shammari, a political advisor to Sudani, reiterated that Israel’s threats “are not new,” citing the recent complaint filed by Israel with the UN Security Council as part of its pattern of issuing threats.
In media statements, Al-Shammari reaffirmed the Iraqi government’s long-standing position: “The decision of war and peace lies solely with the Iraqi government.”
He noted that the factions’ attacks are being launched from areas outside Iraq’s borders, specifically from Syria. However, he stressed that the Iraqi government is working through its security and military agencies to prevent Iraq from becoming a battlefield for external or internal parties.
Al-Shammari also called on the United States to fulfill its responsibilities under the Strategic Framework Agreement and security pact with Iraq, emphasizing the need to deter and respond to any external attacks that threaten Iraq’s internal security.