Turkish intervention in Libya (2020–present)

2020 Turkish intervention in Libya
Part of the Libyan civil war (2014–2020) and the Libyan crisis (2011–present)


Top: Territorial map of the Libyan Civil War in January 2020

Bottom: Current territorial map of the Libyan Civil War
  Under the control of the House of Representatives and the Libyan National Army
  Under the control of the Government of National Accord (GNA) and different militias forming the Libya Shield Force
  Controlled by local forces
Date5 January 2020 (2020-01-05) – ongoing
Location
Result

Turkish-GNA victory

  • Turkey and its proxies pushed LNA out of Tripoli; ceasefire
  • GNA repelled the LNA offensive and advanced towards Sirte and Western Libya
Belligerents

 Turkey
Syrian Interim Government
SADAT International Defense Consultancy
In support of:
Government of National Accord (until 2021)
Government of National Unity (since 2021)

Supported by:

House of Representatives
 Ba'athist Syria
Wagner Group
Gaddafi loyalists

Commanders and leaders
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Hulusi Akar
Hakan Fidan
Fayez al-Sarraj
Khalifa Haftar
Aguila Saleh Issa
Strength
Unknown
18,000 (Peak)
50 advisors
Unknown
1,200 Wagner Group
4,000 (peak)
Casualties and losses

2 killed
496 killed
27 captured,
400+ deserted


500 killed (per LNA)
27 killed (per LNA)
100 killed (per Turkey, as of February 2020)
8 killed

In January 2020, Turkey militarily intervened in support of the United Nations-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) of Libya in the 2014–2020 Libyan civil war. Military intervention was approved by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on 2 January 2020, which passed a one-year mandate to deploy troops to Libya. Turkish military deployments to Libya began on 5 January.

Direct Turkish support for the Government of National Accord usually involves on-the-ground advisers providing training and operational support, air support through unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), intelligence operatives and support from Turkish Navy vessels for Libyan ground forces. In addition to its own troop and equipment deployments, Turkey was hiring and transporting Syrian mercenaries from the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army to support and bolster the manpower of the GNA since December 2019.

The Turkish military intervention in Libya is mainly interpreted as an attempt to secure access to resources and maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean as part of its Blue Homeland Doctrine (Turkish: Mavi Vatan), especially following the ratification of the Libya–Turkey maritime deal. Secondary Turkish objectives are believed to include countering Egyptian and Emirati influence in the Middle East and North Africa. Turkish involvement has also led to disputes with Greece, Israel, and Cyprus.

In December 2023, the Turkish parliament approved the extension of the deployment of the Turkish forces in Libya for two more years starting from 2 January 2024.

On 6 August 2024, Khalifa Haftar's son and LAAF commander Saddam Haftar announced the launch of an operation to "secure the country's southern borders and strengthen stability in these strategic areas". Subsequently, the United Nations called for restraint after Libya's Tripoli-based government placed its forces on high alert in the southern desert region in anticipation of an attack by fighters loyal to the eastern military leader Khalifa Haftar.