Libya's LNA Monitors Turkish Battleships Near Gulf of Sirte

On Saturday, director of Moral Guidance in the Libyan National Army (LNA) Major General Khaled Al-Mahjoub said that the army has monitored the movement of Turkish warships in the Gulf of Sirte, saying that they are closely following the matter.

In press statements, Al-Mahjoub added that the Turkish warships are outside the Libyan territorial waters, and no evidence was detected that they were approaching the oil crescent.

The LNA`s Director of Moral Guidance confirmed that the LNA and the navy are ready to deal with any emergency.

Early Saturday, Libyan media revealed that Turkish warships had been detected in the Gulf of Sirte and that satellites had spotted 6 naval frigates carrying the Turkish flag off the coast of Libya, at the Sirte Oil Bay.

There is speculation that these frigates are heading to the Libyan Oil Crescent areas controlled by the Libyan army forces.

On Wednesday, head of the UN Support Mission to Libya UNSMIL, Stephanie Williams, warned of the danger of the deployment of thousands of foreign fighters in Libya.

In her speech, during the opening session of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, held in Tunis today, Williams said that there are now 10 military bases nationwide, not in a particular area, adding that they are either fully or partially occupied by foreign forces.

The UNSMIL head added that there are also 20,000 foreign forces and mercenaries in the North African country, noting that this is a shocking violation of Libyan sovereignty.

“You may believe that these foreigners are here as your guests, but they are now occupying your house. This is a blatant violation of the arms embargo,” she stated.