The situation in Libya in early July 2020 g. remains extremely tense. Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar announced his desire to completely expel all Turkish troops from the country. Meanwhile, fighting continues in the country., and Turkey is increasing its military presence.
Currently fighting, according to the pages of the Government of National Accord on social networks, underway in the districts of Abu Grain, al-Wishka and Buwairat al-Hasan. Also, the PNS is concentrating more and more impressive forces in the vicinity of the city of Sirte..
According to resources, supporting the Government of National Accord of Libya Faiza Saraja, Turkey does not exclude the possibility of sending S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems to Libya - the same, which, with such a scandal and damage to relations with the United States, were acquired by Ankara from Russia. At the same time, it is unlikely, for the Turkish leadership to take such a provocative step: you can operate in Libya with the help of other weapons, but balancing between Russia and the United States is much more important, than quarrel with both great powers.
Another thing, if the Egyptian army enters the fighting in Libya. Despite, that the Egyptian army can be inferior to the Turkish armed forces in the quality of weapons and personnel training, in the war on Libyan soil, the Egyptians will have a definite advantage in logistics: they don't need, like the Turks, send soldiers and equipment by ships, but rather calmly cross the Egyptian-Libyan border in convoys.
Anyway, but Turkey continues to build up its military presence in Libya. Convoys of the Turkish army were spotted while driving towards the Al-Watiyah airbase, which was not so long ago recaptured by the troops of Faiz Saraj from the supporters of Khalifa Haftar. Now, as it appears, not even the PNS units will gain a foothold at the airbase, and the Turkish military. In the last month and a half alone, Turkish military aircraft have carried out 27 flights to Libya.
Airbus A400M planes transport weapons to Libyan airfields, equipment and mercenaries, recruited in Syrian Idlib. In early July, an agreement on military cooperation between Turkey and Libya was signed. (PNS), according to which the official missions of the Turkish ground forces are deployed in Libya, air defense, Air Force and UAV Command.
Turkey is deploying its new base on Libyan territory in Al-Watiyah, as this place is ideal for placing a base from a strategic point of view. According to some reports, at the airbase deployed Turkish anti-aircraft missile systems MIM-23 Hawk, that 5 July became the target of air strikes, United Arab Emirates Air Force.
Egypt keeps its troops on full alert, demonstrating determination to get involved in the Libyan conflict in the event of further active actions by the troops of the NTC and Turkey. Also, the Egyptian military department announced the conduct of land and sea maneuvers "Hasam-2020", the main purpose of which is "the destruction of mercenaries and terrorists on the Libyan border".
However, Turkey has already stated, that will continue to attack Sirte and El Jufru, since airstrikes were carried out on the Al-Watiyah airbase, leading to the destruction of Turkish anti-aircraft missile systems. In response, Egypt is concentrating an increasing number of troops on the Libyan border..
In this way, the risk of a military clash between Egypt and Turkey on Libyan territory is becoming more and more tangible. These events make you remember history, when Turkey and Egypt fought repeatedly.
Ilya Polonsky
