2 Turkish Military Aircraft Loaded with Arms Land in Libya

On Thursday, two Turkish military cargo aircraft landed at al-Watiya airbase in western Libya, well-informed sources told the Italian Nova Agency.

The sources added that one of the two aircraft was carrying advanced air defense systems that are exclusively owned by NATO member states.

Meanwhile, the second one was carrying many logistical materials and foodstuffs; in addition that some members of the Turkmen minority in northern Syria were also on board.

The Al-Wataya airbase is one of the largest military bases in North Africa. It has become under the full control of Turkish army units on the basis of a military agreement signed between the Libyan Government of National Accord and Ankara.

Libya has been marred in violence between competing forces, militias, and extremists since the toppling and killing of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The conflict now pits the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) against the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, for control of the country.