Turkey, Qatar save Turkish citizens held by Haftar forces in Libya

Seven Turkish civilians, who were held upon baseless allegations in Libya’s east by Khalifa Haftar forces, are finally back home after about two years. Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) saved the group in joint efforts with Qatari intelligence.

The citizens, most of whom were working at restaurants and bakeries in Libya, were identified as Ilker Sağlık, Doğan Kıssa, Nurettin Çalık, Halil Gözel, Ahmet Selvi, Hidayet Yaprak and Abdul Samet Akçay. The Foreign Ministry and MIT have been pursuing efforts over the past two years for their release.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan telephoned the rescued citizens and wished them well, while the rescued in turn thanked the state.

Libya has been mired in civil war since the overthrow of dictator Moammar Gadhafi in a 2011 uprising. The bloodshed has drawn in competing Libyan factions and extremist groups as well as foreign powers.

According to a deal with the legitimate government in Libya, Turkey sent troops to shore up the United Nations-recognized government in Tripoli, while Russia and other countries including France supported the eastern-based illegitimate forces led by Haftar.

In April 2019, Libya’s Haftar and his forces, backed by Egypt, Russia, France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), launched an offensive to try and capture the capital, Tripoli. His 14-month campaign eventually collapsed, and the fall of Tripoli was prevented after Turkey stepped up its military support of the U.N.-backed government.

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