Turkey looking at going into Libya against Russian mercenaries

[NutLoose]

Am I the only one that this sounds like a disaster in the making?

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/12/12/pointing-to-russian-mercenaries-turkeys-erdogan-weighs-joining-fight-in-libya-a68600

[Lonewolf_50]

I'll vote yes, you are probably the only one.
I'll be selling popcorn, as this promises to be highly entertaining.
Pull up a chair and watch the fun.

The Turks and the Russians may, each in their own way, end up showing the world "how to get this sort of thing right."
Or, they may make a complete hash of it.
It gives the media something to cover, if they can avoid the occasional sniper rifle or barrel bomb.

[etudiant]

Given the consequences of the disastrously foolish 'regime change' efforts in Syria and Libya, it would be useful to 'name and shame' the responsible architects, if only so as to be able to disregard their advice in the future.
This latest folly merely compounds the damage.they bear the responsibility for.

[Lyneham Lad]

Article in the Guardian today.
Turkey renews military pledge to Libya as threat of Mediterranean war grows (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/15/turkey-renews-military-pledge-to-libya-as-threat-of-mediterranean-war-grows?CMP=share_btn_link)

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

Several C17 flights from Germany to Libya getting reported on tracking websites.

WWW

[ORAC]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/erdogan-poised-to-send-turkish-forces-into-libyan-conflict-w9g8qwm7pErdogan poised to send Turkish forces into Libyan conflictTurkey is fast-tracking a bill to send troops to Libya to prop up the Tripoli government, threatening a new full-blown proxy war in the Middle East. The bill presented to parliament yesterday is expected to pass next week and will open the way for Ankara to give full military backing to Libya’s government of national accord (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/libya-un-chief-tells-haftar-s-fighters-to-stay-out-of-tripoli-609pqxkk9) (GNA).

The deployment of troops will pitch Turkey and Qatar against Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, all three of whom oppose the GNA and are backing a rival force in the east of Libya.

The split resembles that which has devastated other countries in the region since the start of the Arab Spring (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/trump-is-abandoning-a-region-at-boiling-point-6wnxvmn2z), most notably Syria, where the Russian-backed government of President Assad has now almost fully overwhelmed the opposition, which was supported by Turkey and Qatar, among others. Now President Erdogan of Turkey appears to be using what rebel manpower remains in Syria for his new military adventure. Syrian activists and researchers with contacts in the Libyan capital have confirmed that Syrian rebel forces backed by Turkey have already been sent to fight in the north African country’s civil war.

The secretive Turkish operation to send ethnic Turkmen Syrian fighters to Libya to bolster the GNA ground forces was leaked to the Bloomberg news agency and has been confirmed by a source close to the Syrian opposition. “They get very high salaries and have been promised Turkish nationality,” the source said. It is believed that between 100 and 300 Syrians have already landed in Tripoli, with up to 500 to be sent altogether. They are drawn from a number of the former Free Syrian Army militias who have been recruited into a semi-formal army by Turkey, controlling an area of Syria between the Euphrates and the town of Azaz and acting as a buffer against both the regime and Kurdish forces hostile to Ankara.

The Turkish-backed Syrian opposition “government in exile”, to which the militias are formally aligned, denied it had sent troops to Libya. However, Jalel Harchaoui, a researcher with the Clingendael Institute, who had been in Libya, said that he had independently confirmed the Syrians’ arrival. He said that they were a Turkish response to the Russian decision to send the Wagner Brigade........

[Countdown begins]

I'll vote yes, you are probably the only one.
I'll be selling popcorn, as this promises to be highly entertaining.
Pull up a chair and watch the fun.

The Turks and the Russians may, each in their own way, end up showing the world "how to get this sort of thing right."
Or, they may make a complete hash of it.
It gives the media something to cover, if they can avoid the occasional sniper rifle or barrel bomb.
Not at all sure you understand the dynamics here. Do you believe Turkey and Russia are on the same side?

[Whenurhappy]

Not at all sure you understand the dynamics here. Do you believe Turkey and Russia are on the same side?
this could be more about new Ottomanism. Libya was an Ottoman territory until Italy grabbed it rather brutally in 1911. It's also an excuse to have a pop at UAE and Egypt (and Russia) and will be predominately funded by Qatar, who are thankful for Turkey's ongoing support whilst they are effectively blockaded by Saudi and UAE. Turkey are sensible enough not to.committ ground troops - following the pattern of their occupation of Afrin two years ago.

[Easy Street]

I think an ‘Islamist’ vs ‘secular’ analysis helps to understand the who’s who of the post-Arab Spring Middle East (the inverted commas are to acknowledge that the simple terms cover a great deal of complexity). Counter-intuitively to some, KSA and the UAE have been lined up behind the ‘secular’ parties since a sharp deterioration in relations with Muslim Brotherhood-led Egypt, whose first moves on the regional scene exposed the acute vulnerability of the Gulf monarchies to Islamist-inspired popular dissent. This explains KSA’s rapid switch to support Sisi’s overthrow of Morsi and the societal transformation project being attempted by MBS. Meanwhile the Turkish and Qatari leaderships do not have the same vulnerability; indeed Erdogan rose to power at the head of the moderately Islamist AKP. Both have favoured the Islamist parties in regional conflicts as a convenient way of securing influence. Turkey even sent troops to Qatar at the height of a political spat between the latter and KSA.

Russia? Anti-Islamist (think Chechnya). This makes them uneasy bedfellows with Turkey, but Putin can afford the luxury of a transactional relationship without having to worry about charges of hypocrisy. You can bet your last dollar that the S400s will be on a tight leash to stop them being used against Russian interests.

The UK? Between a rock and a hard place (hence the non-publication of a report into Muslim Brotherhood influence a few years back, and a subsequent ‘argument’ between the Government and Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee which is documented here (https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmfaff/334/334.pdf)).

[Asturias56]

Turkey is a big country in the ME - and they are starting to throw their weight around in their own interests instead of following the NATO line.

The UK? Totally irrelevant in this fight...................

[atakacs]

The UK? Totally irrelevant in this fight...................

Indeed.

Ah the good old days when you could subcontract torture to the Gaddafi goons.

As for the current situation in Lybia the first offenders were the French. When it turned out that they did not have the actual military power to finish the job they turned to the US & NATO while sending special troops to hunt (eventually successfully) for Gaddafi in the sewers. Since then the whole place is a complete and utter mess - well done !

[jolihokistix]

The Russian Wagner forces and the Turkish Syrian fighters can each wage a proxy war and try out new methods of warfare including new-fangled Chinese drones etc.
Quote: Haftar's fighters have failed to reach the center of Tripoli but have made small gains in recent weeks in some southern suburbs of the capital with the help of Russian and Sudanese fighters, as well as drones shipped by the UAE, diplomats say. The Chinese-made drones have given Haftar "local air superiority" as they can carry over eight times the weight of explosives than the drones given to the GNA by Turkey and can also cover the whole of Libya, a U.N. report said in November.
https://japantoday.com/category/world/update-6-turkey-to-send-troops-to-libya-at-tripoli's-request-erdogan

Erdogan seems to want to get Algeria involved too.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1606376/middle-east

[Easy Street]

The UK? Totally irrelevant in this fight...................

I agree, but that's only as a consequence of being between a rock and a hard place. The UK (like other European states) does have a direct interest in ending conflict in Libya, which is to have a stable government with which to cooperate against people-smuggling. Trouble is, it can't make up it's mind whether to support the UN-recognised Islamist government or its Saudi/UAE/Egyptian/Russian-backed secular opponents. Explicitly supporting the latter would undermine (yet again) the conceit that the West seeks to uphold the international system against Russian and Chinese subversion. Explicitly supporting the former would seriously p*ss off a prime export customer and regional partner, and frankly I suspect there is very little enthusiasm in Whitehall for supporting Islamists, however legitimate. So staying out of it is the strategically logical thing to do. As it was (or should have been) with Syria. And Libya the first time. And...

[etudiant]

Libya used to have a stable government which was slavishly cooperative with the West. The UK and France led the way to deposing that government, on specious grounds. Now it is a huge mess.
The architects of this disaster have never been identified or called out, so they are probably still ensconced in senior roles making yet more dumb decisions. Don't expect a happy outcome.

[Whenurhappy]

Turkey is a big country in the ME - and they are starting to throw their weight around in their own interests instead of following the NATO line.

The UK? Totally irrelevant in this fight...................
Except that Turkey is not a Middle-Eastern country. The UK enjoys good relations with Turkey and remains s influential there and in Gulf politics.

[Asturias56]

They're not sensu-stricto a ME country but they have definitely become a major player in the last 10 years.

Essentially facing away from NATO & Russia and looking in their own backyard - I don't blame them TBH - hard to be concerned with say Latvia when the neighbourhood is ablaze............

[Lonewolf_50]

Not at all sure you understand the dynamics here. Actually, I do. And perhaps my sarcasm buried that.
They are each on their own side, pursuing their own aims and objective, and (because doing stuff like this is often also about political image building) will be trying to show how to do it right ... so I'll be selling popcorn.
Ad if they end up shooting at each other, even more hilarity ensues given how Vlad has been trying to help drive the wedge between Turkey and various NATO allies.

[Lyneham Lad]

Article in The Guardian this evening. (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/02/turkish-parliament-to-vote-on-sending-troops-to-libya?CMP=share_btn_link)

Turkey’s parliament has approved by a large majority a bill that allows troops to be deployed to Libya in support of the Tripoli-based government in the country’s worsening civil war (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/21/us-libya-conflict-khalifa-haftar-russia).
The vote, taken during a special sitting, comes amid fears that the threat of Turkish intervention, in addition to that by other regional competitors, could intensify violence in Libya (https://www.theguardian.com/world/libya). MPs voted 325-184 in favour of the deployment.

Click the link for the full (quite lengthy) article.

[ORAC]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/05/turkish-troops-deploy-to-libya-to-prop-up-embattled-government

Turkish troops have begun deploying to Libya (https://www.theguardian.com/world/libya) in a bid to prop up the UN-recognised government in Tripoli, the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has announced.

The move followed a vote in the Turkish parliament backing deployment (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/02/turkish-parliament-to-vote-on-sending-troops-to-libya)and further deadly attacks in Tripoli by an airforce under the control of Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the warlord who has been trying to oust the government since April.

Erdogan told CNN Turk on Sunday that Turkish forces were already on their way to Libya (https://www.theguardian.com/world/libya). “Our soldiers’ duty there is coordination. They will develop the operation centre there. Our soldiers are gradually going right now,” he said........

[Asturias56]

Be interesting to see what happens now - the Turkish Army is a properly organised outfit whereas the War Lords.................. aren't

[Not_a_boffin]

Libya used to have a stable dictatorship which was temporarily cooperative with the West. The UK and France led the way to deposing that dictatorship, on the grounds that it threatened to slaughter the population of Benghazi. Now it is a huge mess.
The architects of this disaster have never been identified or called out, so they are probably still ensconced in senior roles making yet more dumb decisions. Don't expect a happy outcome.

Fixed, free of charge.

Damned if they did nothing and damned for what they did. Agree it's a mess - but would suggest the mess is also primarily of the making of a number of competing Islamic and other groups who are perfectly happy butchering each others civpop and would also happily to unite to butcher any "outsiders" who tried to impose any sort of order. It's easy - and lazy - to simply blame "the west".

[ORAC]

https://twitter.com/warmatters/status/1214176227034116103?s=21

[Asturias56]

Also might be related to the various territorial claims people are making for the deepwater Med. There's a lot of oil & gas under there and both Libya & Turkey have an interest in doing down the Greek Cypriots & the Greeks

[jolihokistix]

It is not really clear which side Trump supports, but did he not eventually decide that he rather liked Haftar/Hifter the strongman?

[Asturias56]

Who knows? Last week's "Economist" reported that the Chinese think "Trump is only a friend of Trump - a man whose self -interest is his only reliable guiding instinct"

[SASless]

If ya'll recall.....Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton (President and Secretary of State respectively) made Regime change in Libya, Egypt, and Syria the cornerstone of American Foreign policy and used US Military force during the Libyan Civil War that resulting in the death of Gadaffi.

If you want to identify the UK proponents then it is your turn.....I just pointed out the American geniuses that led the way from our side.

[Asturias56]

too many to list SAS, too many to list..................... .

[T28B]

I've not followed this very closely, but I note from NutLoose's link that
Putin and Erdogan are scheduled to meet on Jan. 8.:
If any of you have information on the kinds of air support that is being used, currently, that would be of interest.

[ORAC]

Also ties into the whole Turkish/Cypriot/EU conflict on oil/gas exploration and rights in the eastern Mediterranean.

https://www.rt.com/news/478416-turkey-sends-troops-libya-erdogan/

Erdogan sending Turkish troops to Libya ahead of Berlin peace talks

“Turkey is sending troops to Libya to ensure the stability of the UN-backed government in Tripoli, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced.

The move comes ahead of a Berlin summit on the security situation in the country.Ankara has already deployed forces to train troops loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA), as part of a security cooperation agreement between the two countries.

Erdogan also said that, as part of a maritime agreement, it would no longer be possible for other states to conduct oil exploration and drilling off the coast of Libya without the approval of Ankara and Tripoli.........

[Asturias56]

Libya has always taken a robust view about other countries drilling in disputed waters - Tunisia & Malta especially.............

[ORAC]

goes far beyond that....

https://www.petroleum-economist.com/articles/politics-economics/middle-east/2020/turkey-s-dual-libya-objectives

Turkey’s dual Libya objectives

Russia and Turkey, previous backers of opposing sides in the Libya conflict, have clearly decided that—if they could jointly achieve peace in the country—both would be assured of a lasting stake there. This would be a blow to the European powers most closely associated with Libya, Italy and France, which have persistently tried and failed to bring the fighting to an end. Both countries have strong energy links with Libya which they would like to expand. Now there is a possibility that Russian and Turkish firms will put Libya’s oil and gas reserves in their sights. Russia has said in the past that it is interested in working jointly with Turkey on energy exploration and development.

For President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the link-up with Russia in pursuing peace in Libya has another huge dividend. Moscow’s involvement in the initiative is an unmistakable sign that President Vladimir Putin accepts Turkey’s maritime agreement with Libya. This creates two vast contiguous blocks of the Eastern Mediterranean, from the Turkish coast in the north to Libya in the south, with a joint maritime border between the two. The northern part, claimed by Turkey, encompasses some Greek island and parts of Cyprus’ economic exclusion zone (EEZ)......

https://www.timesofisrael.com/turkey-to-start-mediterranean-gas-exploration-as-soon-as-possible/

Turkey to start Mediterranean gas exploration ‘as soon as possible’

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey will start exploring for gas in the eastern Mediterranean this year, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Thursday, after signing a maritime deal with Libya.

“We will start search and drilling activities as soon as possible in 2020 after issuing licenses for the areas,” Erdogan said during a two-hour speech in the capital. He added that Turkey’s seismic exploration vessel Oruc Reis would soon be deployed.

Ankara angered neighboring countries in the Mediterranean with an agreement signed with the Tripoli government in November, which claimed extensive areas of the sea for Turkey. Greece says the deal fails to take into account the island of Crete, while Turkey has already upset Cyprus by sending ships to search for oil and gas off the divided island.

Erdogan said it was “no longer legally possible” for any search and drilling activities or a pipeline without Libya or Turkey’s approval. Earlier this month, Greece, Cyprus and Israel signed a deal to construct an EastMed pipeline to ship gas to Europe, despite Turkey’s vehement opposition.......

[Asturias56]

lot of posturing - but there is a lot of oil & gas in the deep Med to the east

[ORAC]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/turkey-sends-fighter-jets-into-libya-airspace-as-gna-attacks-rebels-l7wld0nfg

Turkey sends fighter jets into Libyan airspace as GNA attacks rebels

Turkey has flown F16 fighter jets over the Libyan coast as it steps up intervention in the country’s civil war.

The military authorities in Ankara said the flights were part of a training exercise. However, they took place as the Turkish-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) continued a major offensive against the rebel officer, Khalifa Haftar, and his Libyan National Army (LNA)........

As part of the offensive, jets carried out numerous attacks over the rebel-held town of Tarhouna, southeast of Tripoli, and on a rebel air base. The GNA insisted the raids were carried out by their own small force of drones and ageing Russian and Italian fighter jets and trainer aircraft.

Turkey’s deployment of F16s could have been intended to send a message after the UAE were said to have agreed to supply Marshal Haftar’s forces with an upgraded air defence system........

The flypast of F16s, which began on Friday, was militarily as well as politically significant. Military experts had questioned whether Turkey’s airforce would have the operating range to take part in the Libyan war without Nato support.

The exercises were briefly described by the Turkish military as involving Air Force Command jets from Eskisehir airbase in northwest Turkey, and the Turkish navy. A key factor, however, was that Turkish KC-135R refuelling tankers were said to have been used.........

[ORAC]

https://www.snafu-solomon.com/2020/05/russian-anti-air-systems-are-being.html

Russian anti-air systems are being interdicted before they even can setup for battle...

[Green Flash]

Mig-29's on the ground in Libya https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/33618/mysterious-mig-29-fighter-appears-at-libyan-air-base-held-by-russian-backed-forces

[Jackonicko]

You're not the only one, Nutloose. A few years back when Admiral Kuznetsov was cruising home from a Syria deployment, Haftar was flown on-board for talks with the Russian defence minister. The question is, has the UN, EU, U.S.A backed the wrong horse.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-russia-haftar/east-libya-strongman-visits-russian-aircraft-carrier-in-mediterranean-ria-idUSKBN14V1T2

Great question. Superficially, at least, Haftar seems to be the non-Islamist, professional military officer, former anti-Gaddafi bloke, who lived in the US and gained US citizenship, and who seems to be modestly democratic by inclination, if also somewhat autocratic. A lovely chap? Perhaps not. Preferable to Islamists and idealogues? Perhaps.

[ORAC]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/world/elite-russian-mercenaries-wagner-group-run-out-of-tripoli-by-turkish-forces-j5bqcmjlz

Elite Russian mercenaries Wagner Group run out of Tripoli by Turkish forces

Russia’s elite mercenary corps, the Wagner Group, has been forced into a humiliating retreat in a victory for Turkey’s rival military adventure in Libya.

Hundreds of men were filmed driving south from the capital, Tripoli, towards the town of Bani Walid, after their local allies announced a pullback from a number of front lines. They were then said to have flown on to a rear base, taking with them artillery and other heavy weapons.

The group, run by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close associate of President Putin, played a key role in the Syrian civil war before being sent to support the rebel Libyan National Army (LNA) of Khalifa Haftar, a Russian-backed former-army officer from the regime of Colonel Gaddafi. In December Turkey came to the aid of the UN-recognised government with military drones and mercenaries of its own — Syrian rebel veterans of that country’s own civil war.

After giving up some of their last strongholds in the south of Tripoli over the weekend, Wagner Group troops were filmed retreating through the desert. It is unclear what further part they will play in the fighting. A UN report last week revealed that the LNA had been trying to recruit a second mercenary force, run by a South African businessman, although that also withdrew from Tripoli after a row with Marshal Haftar......

The arrival of the Wagner force helped the LNA assault on Tripoli in April last year, which for a moment looked as if it might succeed. However, a new and relatively static front opened up in the southern suburbs until the Turkish intervention in late December.

Pro-GNA media claimed that 1,500 Wagner troops had fled to Bani Walid, taking artillery and other heavy weapons with them. The GNA army spokesman, Mohammed Gununu, said they had withdrawn from three military camps in southern Tripoli and the suburb of Salaheddin.

The GNA is said to be preparing an offensive against Tarhouna, the last LNA stronghold in western Libya after the al-Watiya military base to the west of Tripoli fell last week (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/moscow-tries-to-rein-in-marshal-khalifa-haftar-by-backing-libyan-ceasefire-26dznmcb9). During fighting there, at least seven Russian Pantsir anti-aircraft batteries were destroyed by Turkish drones, an embarrassment to Moscow, which has sold the system to countries around the world.

[aw ditor]

I wonder if the Quadrant Huts are still at Tarhuna Range?

[NutLoose]

It would appear Russia has now sent fighter jets to Libya to support their mercs.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/russia-sends-fighter-jets-to-libya-to-support-mercenaries/ar-BB14CcyO

[rattman]

It would appear Russia has now sent fighter jets to Libya to support their mercs.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/russia-sends-fighter-jets-to-libya-to-support-mercenaries/ar-BB14CcyO


wagner group has reportedly withdrawn from libya, there are various reports some saying they have withdrawn completely after an agreement with turkey that they would not attack the transports to they are withdrawing to another location.

Sounds like they really need the airpower as the turkish drones were making mincemeat of them

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/military-planes-fly-wagner-mercenaries-out-of-libya/1853423

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/russian-fighters-flown-western-libya-haftar-retreat-200524200905871.html

[Lonewolf_50]

Anti Drone warfare: the next growth industry. And a place to invest some money; people/governments/armies will want it as badly as they wanted anti air warfare and anti missile warfare

[ORAC]

All 20 are individually identified by name in the linked article. About 50/50 British and South African.

https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/102575/investigators_mercenaries_haftar_uae_libya_helicopter_gunshi p_plan

Investigators uncover roles of mercenaries in UAE-backed Libya helicopter gunship plan

.....The 20 private military contractors (PMCs) who were evacuated from war-torn Libya aboard two Malta-leased RHIBs and to Valletta, were aviation experts getting ready to operate assault helicopters, Malta Today has learnt.

A full list of names in this newspaper’s possession clearly shows the men who arrived at the Valletta seaport on the Manta-1 rigid inflatable boat on 3 July were not oil and gas personnel, but PMCs with evident military experience........

Now police investigators have learned that the men were specialist pilots engaged to operate six utility and support helicopters, to be armed for “assault and interdiction operations”; as well as seacraft from Malta with maritime interdiction capability to target the sea supply route for weapons from Turkey to the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli.........

[ORAC]

AFRICOM press release on Russian deployment of aircraft to Libya. Imagery link at the bottom. Not sure what platform/sensor was taking the images.....

https://www.africom.mil/media-room/pressrelease/32789/russia-deploys-military-fighter-aircraft-to-libya

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x716/image_1cf4ef527156868b5be334a9897af203176c986c.jpeg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x674/image_b3716aaf33beeadc77daea552aec3475382efb7f.jpeg

[Green Flash]

A bit more about it here https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/33666/mig-29-fighters-were-at-russias-air-base-in-syria-just-before-showing-up-in-libya

Also looks like Russia was trying to drive off the P8 that spotted them in the air https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/33688/armed-russian-fighters-fly-dangerously-close-to-u-s-navy-patrol-plane-in-the-mediterranean

[jolihokistix]

Re: ORAC "Not sure what platform/sensor was taking the images....."

Editor’s Note: Imagery of the Russian aircraft can be found at: https://go.usa.gov/xwaSf (https://go.usa.gov/xwaSf%C2%A0)

[ORAC]

Yes Joli, I said that in my post - but it doesn’t identify the sensor/platform taking the photos. Might have been the P-8, then again might have been another platform in the same area.

[Lonewolf_50]

Now police investigators have learned that the men were specialist pilots engaged to operate six utility and support helicopters, to be armed for “assault and interdiction operations”; as well as seacraft from Malta with maritime interdiction capability to target the sea supply route for weapons from Turkey to the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli......... Well that's interesting; taking a page from the book on how to deal with Rommel in North Africa, circa early 1940's ...

[MG]

An interesting read, probably because some of the names may be familiar

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/28/five-uk-mercenaries-offered-150000-fly-helicopters-gen-haftar/

Five British mercenaries involved in an operation to fly assault helicopters for Libya’s renegade General Khalifa Haftar (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/27/british-mercenaries-involved-botched-operation-backing-rebel/)were offered bounties of up to $150,000 each for their role in the daring plot which went awry.

The men, comprised of former Royal Marines and RAF personnel, were among 20 foreign mercenaries who traveled to Libya (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/26/us-accuses-russia-deploying-fighter-jets-libya/)last June in an operation to pilot assault helicopters and speed boats to intercept Turkish ships ferrying weapons to Haftar’s opponents – the UN-backed government in Tripoli (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/18/setback-libyas-khalifa-haftar-tripoli-government-captures-strategic/).

A source with knowledge of the secret UN report which revealed the plot told The Daily Telegraph that the men involved were believed on sums of “$30,000 to $50,000 a month, or $20,000 to $40,000 per month depending on whether you were pilot or aircrewman”.

“It was a three-month contract”.

The Telegraph can reveal that the UN investigation concluded that the operation was led by Steven Lodge, a former South African Air Force officer who also served in the British military.

Mr. Lodge, who now resides in Scotland, is a director of Umbra Aviation, a South-Africa based company that has recently supplied helicopters to the Government of Mozambique, where the country is battling a jihadist insurgency in its restive north.

Speaking to The Telegraph over the phone, Mr. Lodge flatly denied the chronicle of events detailed in the UN report. “All the info is incorrect - the whole facts behind the whole thing,” he said.

Battles between the UN backed government and Gen Haftar's forces have been raging for control over Libya “The fact that the UN is leaking is unethical, to say the least,” he added.

The operation was dubbed “Project Opus”, and was run under the cover story of a “geophysical and hyperspectral" survey of Jordan.

Yet, the report, prepared for the United Nations’ Sanctions Committee, alleges that the operation ended in farce after General Haftar (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/04/28/libyas-khalifa-haftar-accused-coup-detat-puts-eastern-libya/) disputed the quality of helicopters that had been bought in from South Africa via Mozambique.

The 20 men were forced to flee by RHIB to Malta, some 350 miles away on June 2nd, barely four days after their arrival. In Malta, they were arrested upon arrival and subsequently released without charge.

The helicopters were left behind.

Another of those involved is Andy Furness, a former RAF crewman who spent 26 years in the military before, serving until 2011.

Mr. Furness is now CEO of Amber Tiger, an aviation company based in Cheltenham. He did not respond to repeated requests for comment

[MG]

This link:
https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/102575/investigators_mercenaries_haftar_uae_libya_helicopter_gunshi p_plan#.XtDH8xp4WhA

[Evalu8ter]

That's quite an involved and complex set up….

[ORAC]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/egyptian-troops-ready-to-join-libyan-war-sisi-warns-r0dh6fm09

Egyptian troops ready to join Libyan war, Sisi warns

President Sisi has told the Egyptian army and air force to prepare to join the civil war in neighbouring Libya, amid rising tensions over Turkey’s recent intervention in the conflict.

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi instructed his military to be ready to carry out missions “inside or outside our borders” in support of rebel forces in eastern Libya. He warned forces loyal to the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli not to cross the front line near the coastal city of Sirte, which separates them and the renegade commander Khalifa Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army.

The GNA reacted angrily to his comments, accusing him of “beating the drums of war”.

Turkey’s military involvement has helped to shift momentum, allowing GNA forces to reverse a 14-month assault on Tripoli by troops loyal to Marshal Haftar, who is backed by Russia and the United Arab Emirates as well as Egypt. Mr Sisi’s intervention comes after the Tripoli government rejected a potential ceasefire (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tripoli-forces-reject-marshal-khalifa-haftars-plea-for-truce-in-libya-x2px3lx8s) and the proposal of a new “elected national council” that had been backed by Cairo earlier this month.

The president said Egypt did not want to intervene in Libya and generally favoured a political solution but added that “the situation now is different”. He spoke while visiting an air base near the border with Libya. State television showed him watching fighter jets and helicopters taking off.

“Be prepared to carry out any mission, here inside our borders — or if necessary, outside our borders,” he told pilots and special forces personnel, before boasting that the Egyptian army was “one of the strongest in the region”.

He claimed that Egypt had the right to defend itself after receiving “direct threats” from “terrorist militias and mercenaries”. However, Brigadier Abdul Hadi Dara, a military spokesman for the GNA, said: “Sisi’s statements are a blatant interference in our country’s affairs, and we consider it a clear declaration of war against Libya.”

[ORAC]

https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/warning-update-egypts-libya-threat-risks-larger-mediterranean-war

Warning update: Egypt’s Libya threat risks larger Mediterranean war

................Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al Sisi s (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-security-egypt/egypt-has-a-legitimate-right-to-intervene-in-libya-sisi-says-idUSKBN23R0W1)tated on June 20 that Egypt has a legitimate right to intervene in Libya and ordered the Egyptian military to be prepared to do so. Sisi declared the current front line, which lies west of Sirte and Jufra in central Libya, a “red line” in a bid to preserve his Libyan ally’s control of a critical oil-producing region.

Sisi’s threat is an attempt to preserve leverage and secure Egyptian interests after a change in the balance of power in Libya the past month. Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Russia had backed Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar in an attempt to seize Libya’s capital Tripoli starting in April 2019.

Turkey intervened in January 2020 on behalf of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) and stalled the LNA advance. Turkish military support then helped GNA-aligned forces t (https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/world/khalifa-haftar-libya-airbase-turkey-tripoli-un-al-wattiya-a9520581.html)urn the tide. Haftar’s forces withdrew from the Tripoli front in early June, ending the 13-month effort to seize the capital.

Sisi convened eastern Libyan leaders, including Haftar, to announce a uni-lateral ceasefire on June 6. Sisi’s June 20 assertion that an Egyptian intervention would be legitimate is based on the claim that it would be enforcing a cease-fire.

Sisi seeks to hold the line at Sirte and Jufra to prevent a Turkish-backed advance into the oil crescent region, which Haftar’s forces seized in September 2016. Sisi’s June 20 threat was likely triggered by a Turkish s (https://www.france24.com/en/20200620-turkey-says-warlord-haftar-must-withdraw-militias-from-sirte-for-lasting-libya-ceasefire)tatement earlier that same day that a cease-fire would be possible only if LNA forces returned to their 2015 positions—meaning withdrawing from Sirte and ceding control of oil infrastructure.

Losing the oil crescent would severely degrade Haftar’s already shaky position and would weaken other political and tribal leaders through whom Cairo exerts influence. Jufra district is critical as the LNA’s westernmost military position used to support defending Sirte and pressuring Misrata, a key hub for GNA-aligned militias in the northwest. Jufra airbase also houses Russian mercenaries and aircraft that support the LNA.

GNA consolidation of the line the Turks propose would give the GNA control over the bulk of Libya’s oil infrastructure, removing a key point of leverage that Haftar has used to shape negotiations. Such an advance would severely limit the LNA’s ability to strike into western Libya while allowing GNA-aligned forces to pressure LNA power centers directly, reversing the westward trajectory of the Libya conflict since 2014............

The situation on the ground is tense. GNA-aligned forces are preparing to launch an offensive on Sirte, and LNA forces have announced a no-fly zone and the *deployment of reinforcements in response. Russian mercenaries have begun flying combat aircraft sorties out of Jufra airbase, according to satellite imagery released by US Africa Command (AFRICOM) on June 18.

Egypt had begun to build up additional materiel at al Salloum on the Libyan-Egyptian border as of June 8. There are unconfirmed reports of Egyptian and possibly Emirati aircraft in Libyan airspace as of June 22.

What comes next?

Egyptian leaders likely seek to avoid a full-fledged intervention in Libya, particularly as Egypt faces multiple serious challenges that include rising tensions with Ethiopia over its Nile dam, the ongoing counter-insurgency against Islamic State militants in the Sinai Peninsula, and the economic and social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The most likely scenario is an Egyptian show of force to persuade Turkey to scale back its support and limit the advance of its Libyan partners, who are reliant on Turkish drones and air defense assets. This scenario would freeze the conflict around the current front line, allowing for a temporary reduction in tensions..........

A worst-case scenario is possible in the near term if key players miscalculate. Egypt, the UAE, and Russia appear to have misjudged Turkey’s willingness to commit assets to Libya. A similar miscalculation could prove disastrous in the current combustible environment. Should Turkey overreach and seek to call Egypt’s bluff by supporting an invasion of the oil crescent, it could incite an unexpected retaliation from Cairo.

Such a direct conflict remains unlikely, but it is an extremely dangerous possibility with regional implications that could be set off by mistakes or miscalculations in an already fraught environment.........

[ORAC]

Convoy of Scud missiles. Juicy target.....

https://www.snafu-solomon.com/2020/06/someone-is-moving-large-convoy-of-scud.html

[Lonewolf_50]

Looks like it's time to cook up some more popcorn. :eek:

[dead_pan]

Perhaps its the Egyptians making good on their threats? Either way, I'm sure the Turkish drones are in attendance and will deal with any threat posed.

[ORAC]

https://www.politico.eu/article/rough-seas-for-nato-as-turkey-clashes-with-allies/

Rough seas for NATO as Turkey clashes with allies

For NATO allies operating in the Mediterranean, it was less collective defence than collective nonsense. A shambolic day at sea, culminating in an encounter that led France on Tuesday to suspend its role (https://www.politico.eu/article/france-pulls-out-of-nato-naval-mission-in-the-mediterranean/) in a NATO mission in the Mediterranean, has laid bare tensions at the heart of the military alliance.

On the morning of June 10, southwest of the island of Crete, a Greek navy frigate, the Spetsai, was on patrol as part of the EU's Operation IRINI (https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-launches-naval-mission-to-police-libya-arms-embargo/) — an effort to enforce the U.N. arms embargo on Libya that EU officials stress is “neutral” and not aimed against any particular country. The Greek vessel spotted a Tanzanian-flagged cargo ship, Cirkin, a squat white-and-blue boat, suspected of being used by Turkey — a NATO ally and still officially an EU membership candidate — to transport tanks and weapons to Libya's U.N.-recognized government.

The Spetsai dispatched its helicopter, a Sikorsky S-70B Aegean Hawk, to take a closer look. But the helicopter and the Spetsai were tersely warned off by three Turkish naval ships, which said the cargo boat was carrying medical supplies, and under their protection. On orders from an Italian commander, the EU forces backed away and reported the incident to EU and U.N authorities.

But things got even testier — and more dangerous — that evening, closer to Libya, where the same small Turkish flotilla encountered a French frigate, the Courbet, that is part of NATO's Operation Sea Guardian. At that point, the French said, the Cirkin's Automatic Identification System was off.

What happened next is a matter of fierce dispute, and subject to a classified investigation at NATO's highest levels.

According to the French defense ministry, which lodged an official complaint, the Turkish ships became hostile when the Courbet, acting on the orders of NATO's Allied Maritime Command, headquartered in the U.K., sought to inquire about the Cirkin's destination and payload. Turkey insists the interaction was friendly, and that one of its boats even refueled the Courbet.

What is clear is that the two incidents have put an embarrassing new spotlight on intense infighting among NATO allies — prompting French President Emmanuel Macron to double down on his assertion that the alliance is experiencing "brain death." And on Tuesday, France sent a letter to NATO, announcing the temporary withdrawal from the Sea Guardian mission, in a move that indicates there was not enough support from the alliance.........

According to the French, as the Courbet followed NATO orders to inspect the suspicious cargo ship, Turkish sailors could be seen in combat positions, and one of the Turkish frigates flashed its radar lights onto the French vessel three times, effectively threatening to shoot. French officials were irate.

"We can't accept that an ally behaves this way, we can't accept that an ally does this against a NATO ship, under NATO command, carrying out a NATO mission," a French defense ministry official said. And at a NATO meeting last month, the French armed forces minister, Florence Parly, demanded an investigation. Meanwhile, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar issued a statement (https://www.msb.gov.tr/SlaytHaber/2062020-51571) dismissing the French claims as "completely unrealistic."

What seems clear is that Turkey did not want its own allies to see whatever the Cirkin was carrying. And its cargo was delivered without being inspected, despite orders from commanders leading the different EU and NATO maritime missions.

Even NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who normally finds a way to explain away any differences among the alliance's 30 members, could not dispute the stark divide over the events of June 10th.

"The fact is that two NATO allies are involved and those two NATO allies have totally different views on what actually happened. And therefore, the NATO military authorities are now investigating, looking into that instance to try to establish the facts," Stoltenberg said (https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_176715.htm) in a public interview last week with the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

NATO allies had unanimously denounced Macron's "brain death" remark, but after the recent naval tension, the French leader claimed vindication. "I refer you back to my comments at the end of last year on the brain death of NATO," he told reporters last week. "This was one of the most beautiful demonstrations possible — when we have two NATO members who found themselves in the situation that we went through."....

A Turkish official slapped back at Macron, accusing him of displaying NATO's dirty laundry.

"As a matter of principle, we do not find it appropriate for topics of sensitive and confidential nature for the Alliance to be the subject of media commentary," the Turkish official said. "Unfortunately, there is an increasing tendency on behalf of some allies to publicize such issues, through targeted leaks, anonymous commentary or high-level statements," said the official, who declined to be named.........

Still, other EU and NATO countries, even when politically close to France, are reluctant to acknowledge such a stark divide, given Turkey's military importance — as one of the alliance's largest and best-armed members, and the political risks of alienating Ankara, which could push it closer to Moscow.

That reluctance was vividly on display when only eight out of 30 NATO countries were willing to publicly support France in its complaint about the Courbet incident. Most notable was the lack of public support from Washington and London, where Boris Johnson made clear he did not give much credence to France's view.

The U.K. sees Turkey as an essential part of its global strategy post-Brexit, while the U.S. sees Turkey’s involvement in Libya as a way to curb Russian intervention.

All that has left other NATO countries struggling to calibrate their message. "Turkey is a valid ally," Portuguese Defense Minister João Gomes Cravinho said in an interview. "I wouldn't call it a problem, but there are a number of problems relating to Turkey."

https://www.politico.eu/article/france-pulls-out-of-nato-naval-mission-in-the-mediterranean/

France pulls out of NATO naval mission in the Mediterranean

[Lyneham Lad]

Also on the BBC News website.

Libya crisis: France suspends Nato mission role amid Turkey row (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53262725)

[jolihokistix]

Russia will be happy for various reasons.

[Lonewolf_50]

I am inclined to believe the French version of this story.
The Greek vessel spotted a Tanzanian-flagged cargo ship, Cirkin, a squat white-and-blue boat, suspected of being used by Turkey — a NATO ally and still officially an EU membership candidate — to transport tanks and weapons to Libya's U.N.-recognized government. The Spetsai dispatched its helicopter, a Sikorsky S-70B Aegean Hawk, to take a closer look. But the helicopter and the Spetsai were tersely warned off by three Turkish naval ships, which said the cargo boat was carrying medical supplies, and under their protection. On orders from an Italian commander, the EU forces backed away and reported the incident to EU and U.N authorities. If it wasn't carrying arms, why were the Turks all in an uproar (beyond the usual "you are Greek, therefore we don't like you" business).
... the same small Turkish flotilla encountered a French frigate, the Courbet, that is part of NATO's Operation Sea Guardian. At that point, the French said, the Cirkin's Automatic Identification System was off.
According to the French defense ministry, which lodged an official complaint, the Turkish ships became hostile when the Courbet, acting on the orders of NATO's Allied Maritime Command, headquartered in the U.K., sought to inquire about the Cirkin's destination and payload.
And the 'escorts' objected, doubtless on orders from Ankara.
What seems clear is that Turkey did not want its own allies to see whatever the Cirkin was carrying. And its cargo was delivered without being inspected, despite orders from commanders leading the different EU and NATO maritime missions.
I love this politico double talk, though.
"Turkey is a valid ally," Portuguese Defense Minister João Gomes Cravinho said in an interview. "I wouldn't call it a problem, but there are a number of problems relating to Turkey." The French minister's observation that NATO was experiencing 'brain death' is also amusing.

[dead_pan]

Why didn't the Turks just say the ship was carrying tractor spares, just for bantz?

It looks like the French many have backed the wrong horse in Libya, and are trying to save face with some manufactured outrage against Turkey. Stoltenberg's comments were amusing though.

[ORAC]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/russian-arms-and-mercenaries-pour-in-for-rebel-libyan-general-khalifa-haftar-29lzk6jnv

Russian arms and mercenaries pour in for rebel Libyan general Khalifa Haftar

Russia and other backers of Libya’s rebel movement are pouring arms and mercenary fighters into the country in advance of what is expected to be a key battle over oil facilities with Turkish-backed government forces.

On Sunday jets allied to the rebel general, Khalifa Haftar, struck a military base in Libya’s west being used by Turkey to aid the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA). The attack on the al-Wattiya base, which had just taken delivery of an air defence system and housed other Turkish-supplied equipment, brings a proxy war between Russia and Turkey, along with their allies, to a head.

The GNA inflicted a humiliating defeat on Marshal Haftar’s forces in Tripoli in May, and went on to drive them out of the west of the country thanks to renewed Turkish military assistance, including the provision of Syrian mercenaries.

Russia was at the time rumoured to have become disillusioned with Marshal Haftar’s leadership (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/libya-s-renegade-general-khalifa-haftar-suffers-string-of-defeats-qrz37t36c). However, flight tracking websites have since picked up scores of military flights into the eastern half of the country, which is still controlled by the rebels. Tupolev and Ilyushin supply planes have been landing at the al-Khadim air base, east of Benghazi, which was developed by the United Arab Emirates, another Haftar backer.

President Assad of Syria has agreed to co-operate with Marshal Haftar, but more importantly Russia has itself begun recruiting fighters for him from pro-regime militias in the country......

The military build-up on either side is now focused on what could be the decisive battle of the civil war. Gaddafi’s birthplace Sirte, the major coastal city of central Libya, fell to Marshal Haftar’s forces in January as they besieged Tripoli, but the GNA and its Turkish backers are now determined to retake it. Sirte is the gateway to a string of major oil refineries and ports to the east, and their loss would be a possibly fatal blow to the rebels.

Anas el-Gomati, a Libyan analyst, said the Russians were flying in Syrian mercenaries, training them with the UAE, and inserting them in oil installations as a last line of defence. The rebels are holding out the possibility of demanding a separate state in the east of the country as an alternative to a stake in government of the whole of Libya, he said, and that would be impossible without control of some of the country’s oil.

“The mercenaries are being used as a force to secure the most sensitive infrastructure, so that it can be used as leverage in future negotiations,” Mr Gomati said.....

[T28B]

Just a thought for those observing this with a critical eye.
The Russians are on the UN Security Council as a permanent member.
The 'UN-backed' description of the group supported by Turkey may become a moot point.
France is also on the Security Council as a permanent member. Paris appear to be taking a dim view of how Ankara is proceeding.

[Lonewolf_50]

To return to aviation content: air strikes reportedly took out some Turkish supplied air defense equipment on 05 July 2020.
Source is the New York Times, so you may run into a pay wall (https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/07/05/world/middleeast/ap-ml-libya.html). (Excerpted from the larger article)
Cairo — Libyan officials in the capital of Tripoli said Sunday that overnight airstrikes hit a key military base on the city’s outskirts that was recently retaken by Turkey-backed forces.

A spokesman for the Tripoli-based forces, Col. Mohamed Gnounou, said the strikes were carried out by “foreign jets” allied with military commander Khalifa Hifter.

Hifter’s forces are backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia, while Tripoli is backed by Turkey, Qatar and Italy. Libya has been divided between these two rival governments since 2015 — one in the east, allied with Hifter, and the U.N.-supported government in Tripoli.

The airstrikes late Saturday on the al-Waitya airbase in the desert southwestern of Tripoli destroyed military equipment recently brought in by Turkey, including air-defense systems, according to officials in Tripoli. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media. An official with Hifter’s forces, Brig. Gen. Khaled al-Mahjoub, said at least nine targets at the base were hit.

[dead_pan]

Rumours are that the strike was undertaken by UAE Mirages.

You'd have thought that the first thing you would have done was put a CAP over the airbase while the AD systems were brought online. A bit of payback for plinking all of those Pantsirs I guess.

[Lonewolf_50]

Rumours are that the strike was undertaken by UAE Mirages.
@dead_pan, I guess they weren't tracked by FR24. :E

[ORAC]

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/week-defense-july-29-aug-5-2020

U.S. Africom Confirms Su-24s in Libya

U.S. Africa Command (Africom) has confirmed the presence of Russian Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer fighter bombers in Libya, releasing satellite imagery of the Libyan National Army-controlled Al-Khadim air base. Three Su-24s can be seen in the images released by Africom on July 24: Two are parked on the airfield’s flight line, while the nose of a third is visible under a partially constructed sun shelter nearby. Commercial satellite imagery had already confirmed the presence of Su-24s at Al-Khadim.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1500x1125/defweek31_4_us_africa_command_0_43c0f452b13c0bd710ae712c4d96 f34e5d5a9372.jpg



Africom revealed the presence of Russian combat aircraft in Libya in May, providing imagery of both Su-24s and MiG-29s in transit to the North African state, but it presented images of MiG-29s on the ground only at Al-Jufrah air base. As many as 14 Russian combat aircraft may be on the ground in Libya, Africom has previously said.

Both Al-Jufrah, 140 mi. southwest of the Libyan city of Sirte, and Al-Khadim, near Benghazi, are under the control of the Libyan National Army led by Gen. Khalifa Belqasim Haftar and supported by Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Africom is particularly concerned with the Russian presence in the country, which is apparently spearheaded by personnel from the Wagner Group, a private military contractor that has support from Moscow. Over the past several weeks, Africom has been documenting and releasing overhead imagery of the “broad scope” of Russian involvement, says U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Gregory Hadfield, Africom’s deputy director of intelligence. Hadfield says Russia is attempting to gain a “foothold” in the country.

Russian Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 airlifters have been flying in supplies, including air defense equipment, utility trucks and Russian mine-resistant/ambush-protected vehicles. Two Il-76s can be seen in imagery provided by Africom.

“The type and volume of equipment demonstrates an intent toward sustained offensive combat action capabilities, not humanitarian relief, and indicates the Russian Ministry of Defense is supporting these operations,” says Brig. Gen. Bradford Gering, Africom’s director of operations.

Al-Khadim has previously been associated with a presence by United Arab Emirates armed forces, but there is no sign of UAE forces in the images presented by the U.S.

[Bergerie1]

Chinese manufactured weapons being sent from the UAE and used for strikes in Libya. What is the professional military opinion of this BBC investigation?

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53917791

[ORAC]

Qatar to support Turkey with military airlift under the guise of a training agreement ? Alert 5 (http://alert5.com/2021/06/23/qatar-to-support-turkey-with-military-airlift-under-the-guise-of-a-training-agreement/)

Qatar to support Turkey with military airlift under the guise of a training agreement

Nordic Monitor has obtained and published a technical agreement document between Qatar and Turkey.

While the agreement is to permit Qatar to send up to 36 military aircraft and not more than 250 personnel to Turkey for training, the agreement also allows Qatar to transport Turkish military equipment, material, dangerous goods, ammunition, personnel or humanitarian aid materials inside and outside of Turkey.

In fact, in point 9 under the Implementation and Procedures, “training flights of Qatar inside Turkey are to be conducted during air transportation missions as much as possible.”

Under point 10, “in case of a support requirement of (Turkey), (Qatar) is to avail of its other type of aircraft in (Qatar’s) inventory for transportation of (Turkey’s) military equipment, material, dangerous goods, ammunition, personnel or humanitarian aid materials, if it is deemed suitable by competent authority of Qatar.”

Qatar aircraft may use another airfield or base temporarily for training, exercise or transport of materials in coordination with Turkey, says point 11.

Turkey also requires Qatar to allow one of its transport pilot to be inside the cockpit of a Qataris transportation aircraft sortie. At least one Turkish load master will also be inside the same aircraft to handle administrative work.

Both Qatar and Turkey supports the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) of Libya. Turkey has been sending troops and weapons to Libya, the agreement could see Qatar assist Turkey in the latter’s military intervention in the country.

For more information, hit the Source below

Source (https://nordicmonitor.com/2021/06/turkey-to-train-qatari-fighter-pilots-amid-efforts-for-easing-tension-with-the-gulf-and-egypt/)