US website FlightAware, which specializes in monitoring military aircraft, reported that a Turkish military cargo aircraft landed in western Libya on Wednesday.
The website stated that the Lockheed C-130H flight (reg. 63-13188) and call code TUAF829, was monitored from Etimesgut Air Base, 15 km west of Ankara, en route to western Libya.
It added that the Turkish aircraft left Libya at 04:39 pm CET.
Turkey continues to send military aircraft to Libya, with more than ten planes landing at the Uqba bin Nafi Airbase in western Libya.
Jamal Shalouf, a Libyan researcher and the Head of the Silphium Foundation for Studies and Research, said that many Turkish military cargo planes, using tracking concealment techniques, have been monitored near Libyan airspace over the recent years
Turkey is believed to control a number of military bases in western Libya, most notably the Al-Watiya airbase. Ankara also recruited more than 18,000 Syrian mercenaries, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
In September, a Turkish military Airbus A400M arrived at Al-Rutba Air Base. Meanwhile, another C130 aircraft also landed at Al-Watiya Air Base, coming from a Turkish military base, according to data published by Flightradar24.
Ankara signed a memorandum of understanding on security and military cooperation in November 2019 with Libya’s former Government of National Accord (GNA), headed by Fayez Al-Sarraj.
In June, the Turkish Parliament approved a motion to extend the mission of the Turkish troops in Libya for additional 18 months.
Last year, Turkish Defence Minister, Hulusi Akar, stated that the Turkish soldiers and Syrian mercenaries in Libya would remain present to preserve Ankara’s interests.
The UN estimates there are over 20,000 foreign fighters and mercenaries in Libya, helping both sides of the conflict.
In April 2019, the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive on Tripoli. The previous Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) requested help from Turkey in November 2019, to avert an LNA takeover. Ankara soon began to airlift thousands of Syrian mercenaries, and an array of weapons to support the GNA.
The ceasefire agreement also demands the withdrawal of all mercenaries and foreign fighters from the country. A number of Libyan politicians have called for the closure of airspace to Turkish aviation.
