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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Asharq Al-Awsat

Turkey, Sarraj’s GNA Sign Military Deal

A man inspects the site of an airstrike in Tripoli, Libya October 14, 2019. REUTERS/Ismail Zitouny

Turkey signed a military deal late Wednesday with the head of Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) following a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul, his office said.

Erdogan met with Fayed al-Sarraj to sign agreements on security and military cooperation, as well as maritime jurisdictions. 

"We are confident that we will improve the security situation for the Libyan people together," Fahrettin Altun, communications director at the Turkish presidency, wrote on Twitter.

He called on other countries to support the GNA. 

"Stability of Libya is critically important for the safety of Libyans, regional stability, and prevention of international terrorism," Altun tweeted.

The deal comes despite calls from the Arab League -- which includes Libya -- to end cooperation with Turkey in protest at its military offensive against Kurdish forces in Syria last month. 

The Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Haftar has repeatedly said that Turkey has been providing military support to Sarraj’s forces.

Last week, the LNA said it had carried out air strikes on the port city of Misrata, targeting armored vehicles delivered from Turkey and a munitions depot.

The LNA has been on the offensive since early April to take the Libyan capital Tripoli.

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