Libya conflict

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler met with Saddam Hifter, commander of the Libyan National Army’s ground forces, on the sidelines of IDEF25 defense fair in Ankara, on July 23, 2025.

Libya’s Khalifa Hifter names son Saddam second-in-command: What to know

Saddam Hifter’s appointment as deputy general commander of the Libyan National Army positions him as a key power player in eastern Libya amid ongoing political division.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni react during a press conference as part of Turkey's President's visit at the Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome on April 29, 2025. Turkish President arrived in Rome for talks with Italy's Prime Minister on April 29, 2025, as the two Mediterranean countries seek to boost trade and cooperation, and will discuss the war in Ukraine and the "situation in the Middle East" before a summit where government ministers are expected to sign

Italy, Turkey, Libya hold summit as Meloni prioritizes migration: What to know

Three leaders met in Istanbul as Italy leads efforts to curb irregular migration from Libya and Ankara balances between Tripoli and eastern Libya.

Security forces stand guard as Libyans perform the morning prayer of Eid al-Fitr with a portrait of the military strongman of eastern Libya, Khalifa Hiftar, in the background in the port city of Benghazi on March 31, 2025.

Analysis

US reengages Hifter as Trump pursues dual Libya strategy: What to know

Though the UN Security Council, and by extension Washington, continues to recognize the Tripoli-based GNU as Libya’s legitimate government, the US senior adviser's outreach to both Dbeibah and Hifter points to a dual strategy undertaken by the Trump administration.

By Rosaleen Carroll

In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East

Turkish police officers patrols next to the drilling ship 'Yavuz'

Analysis

Erdogan’s gamble: Turkey bets on Libya to pursue East Med dominance

The prospect of Libya’s eastern-based parliament approving a crucial maritime deal with Turkey is growing as Ankara-Benghazi rapprochement intensifies.

Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Latest News

Turkey defense chief meets Saddam Hifter as thaw with Libya continues

Turkish Defense Minister Yasaar Guler met with Saddam Hifter, Libyan National Army’s ground forces commander, on the sidelines of IDEF25 defense fair, July 23, 2025

Turkey's Fidan heads to New York for Cyprus talks as Libya tensions flare

Giorgos Gerapetritis (L), foreign minister of Greece, speaks with Hakan Fidan (R), foreign minister of Turkey during the second meeting of North Atlantic Council of foreign ministers at NATO headquarters, Brussels, Dec. 4, 2024.

Libya, Turkey sign agreement to deepen military ties: What to know

People wave flags of Libya (R) and Turkey (L) during a demonstration in the Martyrs' Square in the center of the Libyan capital Tripoli on June 21, 2020.

Analysis

Dbeibeh’s militia gambit: Power consolidation or prelude to more Libya chaos?

Libyan security forces stand guard at the entrance of Abu Salim Zoo as workers carry out maintance work in the capital Tripoli on May 28, 2025. From May 12 to 15, the Libyan capital was rocked by fighting between an armed group aligned with the Tripoli-based government and factions it has sought to dismantle. Relative calm has since returned, but the situation remains highly volatile as calls grow for the resignation of Dbeibah (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

By Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

In London, reporting on North Africa and Gulf politics

While America counts its votes, Erdogan advances his agenda

Can the next US president manage Erdogan’s ambition?

Intel: Departure of foreign forces from Libya in question ahead of political talks in Tunis

An agreement between rival Libyan military representatives this week made no mention of the UN-backed cease-fire's demand that foreign mercenaries leave by January

Libyan rivals meet for UN-brokered face-to-face talks

The meeting is the first since the two parties agreed to a cease-fire last month.

Another mass grave discovered in Libya's Tarhuna

Libya's Tripoli-based government has issued arrest warrants for the Kaniyat militia that long controlled Tarhuna.

Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Political Affairs in Libya Stephanie Williams attends a press conference on talks between the rival factions in the Libya conflict on October 21, 2020 at the United Nations offices in Geneva. - The UN's Libya envoy said she was "quite optimistic" about the prospects of a ceasefire emerging from ongoing talks between the two warring factions. Two days into the talks at the United Nations in Geneva, scheduled to last until October 24, 2020, the two

Libya's rival parties sign 'permanent' nationwide cease-fire

The Government of National Accord and Libyan National Army agreed to the truce during UN-sponsored talks in Geneva.

Intel: UN Libya envoy ‘very optimistic’ about cease-fire as civilian travel set to reopen

Acting UN Libya envoy Stephanie Williams said Wednesday the two sides agreed to cooperate on restructuring the forces that guard petroleum fields.

A member of security forces affiliated with the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA)'s Interior Ministry takes a picture as he stands at the reported site of a mass grave in the town of Tarhuna, about 65 kilometres southeast of the capital Tripoli on June 11, 2020. - The United Nations mission to Libya on June 11 voiced "horror" over the reported discovery of at least eight mass graves in an area evacuated this month by strongman Khalifa Haftar's forces. "UNSMIL notes with horror reports on the discov

12 bodies discovered in new mass graves in Libya

At least 100 bodies have been discovered since the retreat of Khalifa Hifter's forces from the area earlier this year.

France, Egypt join forces to reach settlement in Libya

Observers are optimistic about the new initiative launched by Paris and Cairo to solve the Libyan crisis.

France’s Sarkozy charged in Libya campaign funding probe

Prosecutors are investigating whether the former French president received illegal campaign financing from Moammar Gadhafi's regime.

Libya detains alleged human trafficker sanctioned by UN

The United Nations imposed sanctions on Abd al-Rahman al-Milad, a former Libyan coast guard commander, in 2018.

Will Russia recruit Syrian Kurds to fight in Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict?

While Russia will likely avoid direct involvement in the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, there are signs it could draw lessons from Libya and recruit fighters from Syria to do its bidding.

A picture taken on June 3, 2020 shows an oil refinery in Libya's northern town of Ras Lanuf. - Libya's National Oil Company said Monday it had restarted production at Al-Fil oil field, closed since January by the forces of eastern military strongman Khalifa Haftar. The NOC's announcement came a day after output resumed at Al-Sharara oil field, the country's largest, following a string of victories against Haftar by forces backing Libya's Tripoli-based unity government. (Photo by - / AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via

Intel: Production allowed to resume at Libya’s largest oil field as talks progress

The Libyan National Oil Company has lifted its force majeure on the Sharara oil field as the warring sides edge closer to a cease-fire.