Lieutenant General Mohamed al-Haddad, the Chief of General Staff for Libya’s Government of National Unity, led a Libyan military delegation in the “EFES2024” Turkish military exercises.
Held on May 29 and 30, the exercises featured participation from senior Turkish military officials, defense ministers, and chiefs of staff from multiple countries, as stated by the Libyan General Staff.
Responding to an invitation from the Turkish Ministry of Defense and the Turkish General Staff, Al Haddad prepared a force comprising personnel from the Land and Naval Forces Command, the Supply and Logistics Authority, and various military units. The Libyan contingent included infantry and Special Forces, all part of a detailed training plan.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the second day of the exercises, which included extensive land, naval, and air military displays from the participating nations.
On the sidelines of the exercises, the Libyan military official met with Turkish Chief of General Staff General Metin Gürak and held a technical meeting with Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler. The discussions centered on enhancing training programs, developing the Libyan army, and strengthening military cooperation between Libya and Turkey.
The Turkish General Staff described the Libyan forces’ performance as “excellent,” highlighting the positive outcomes of their participation.
Libya’s involvement in the EFES2024 exercises signifies a crucial step in its deepening military cooperation with Turkey. This partnership has grown stronger since a military cooperation agreement was signed in 2019, enabling Turkish support for the Government of National Unity in its efforts to stabilize and rebuild Libya’s military.
Since the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime, Libya has been plagued by internal conflict and factional divisions, leading to a fragmented military. The Government of National Unity, under Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbaiba, aims to unify the military and restore stability, with significant support from international allies such as Turkey.
The EFES2024 exercises provided an opportunity for the Libyan military to engage with international forces, gain essential training experience, and demonstrate their capabilities. These exercises, among the largest conducted by Turkey, involve complex scenarios that test the interoperability and readiness of the participating forces.
