Libyan government forces advancing militarily with Turkish support, Trump calls for 'urgent de-escalation' of conflict

(Patria) - US President Donald Trump, in a phone call with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, called for an 'urgent de-escalation' of the conflict in Libya, after government forces made some progress in recent weeks that could lead to a counter-attack by General Haftar.

Official Ankara claims that NATO allies have agreed to continue working on stabilizing the eastern Mediterranean, including Syria, while Erdogan's spokesperson emphasized that the international community must stand with Turkey in the Libyan conflict.

Let us recall that Turkey supports the internationally recognized Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), which has made significant progress in recent weeks in fighting the Libyan National Army (LNA) of General Khalifa Haftar, who has been trying to capture Tripoli for 13 months. Haftar is supported by Russia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.

With Turkey's help, the GNA has captured several cities, a strategic airbase, and destroyed several of Haftar's air defense systems.

Given that the LNA has announced a major air strike in response to the advance of government forces, foreign diplomats are warning of a possible escalation of the conflict, which is also fueled by foreign factors supplying weapons to the warring parties.

'Turkey will not back down from the threats of Haftar or anyone else,' said Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin in an interview with NTV.

- The international community must take a stand against Haftar. We must return to the negotiating table to find a political solution as soon as possible, Kalin stressed, Reuters reported.