With deployment of warplanes, Russia's warning to Turkish intrusion in Libya

Libyan Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha on Thursday reportedly said that Russia has sent at least eight fighter jets to the Al Jufra airbase in central Libya from Syria's Hmeimim airbase. It is important to note that Russia's military transport deployment has become quite active in Libya in recent weeks. Speaking to Bloomberg, Libyan National Army (LNA)’s airforce chief Saqr al-Jaroushi stated that the fighter jets will be used in an upcoming aerial campaign which he claimed to be the largest campaign in Libyan history. A similar plan to target Ankara's interests in Libya was also endorsed by LNA spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari recently, as a warning for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan against his military's increasing presence in the war-torn country.

Significantly, it has been viewed that the deployment of warplanes in Libya is an attempt by the Russian administration-backing the LNA to target Turkey's military support to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) faction.

Earlier in November 2019, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Libyan PM Fayez al-Sarraj signed two Memoranda of Understanding catering to military cooperation and marine jurisdiction, in a bid to strengthen the cooperation between the two countries. As Turkey continued its supply of weapons and mercenaries to Libya's GNA in the aftermath of the MoU, the international community including the UN, has called out Ankara for violating the UN arms embargo imposed on Libya since 2011.

Even after pledging to respect the UN arms embargo on Libya during the 2020 Berlin Conference, Turkey has been repeatedly violating the embargo by sending military equipment and weapons to the country. While Russia has been providing military aid to the Fayez al-Sarraj government, Haftar is being backed by Russia and UAE.

In January 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart called for a ceasefire in the war-torn country. However, the conflict in Libya has only intensified with string of armed attacks between the two rival sides. Interestingly, Turkish and Russian Presidents on May 19 held a telephonic conversation to discuss the ongoing situation in Libya. As per media reports on May 23, three of Russia's Pantsir S-1 (SA-22 Greyhound) air defence systems were neutralized by Turkish armed drones, which are allegedly operated by Turkish personnel.

Split between UN-backed GNA under PM Fayez Sarraj and LNA-led by General Khalifa Haftar, Libya has been facing a prolonging conflict leading to huge loss of life and property on both sides in the past few years. In 2014, Haftar led a revolt against the Tripoli government divided the country into western and eastern warzones. Since then, the Russia-backed LNA has been engaged in a civil war with the GNA, which is militarily supported by Turkey.