‘No end in sight’ for Libya war after Turkey’s intervention corners rebel warlord

Turkey’s involvement has changed battlefield dynamics. But the war continues unabated, writes Borzou Daragahi

A fighter loyal to Libya's UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) stands next to a destroyed car following bombardment earlier in the day in the residential Bab Bin Ghashir neighbourhood in Tripoli (AFP/Getty)

Turkey’s intervention in the Libyan conflict six months ago has altered the course of the war, boosting the prospects and military strength of the United Nations-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in the capital, Tripoli, against the warlord Khalifa Haftar.

But Turkey’s deployment of troops, mercenaries and sophisticated equipment to help its Libyan allies has failed to lift Haftar’s siege of Tripoli, while emboldening his allies and pushing him to resort to more devastating air power. Air and artillery strikes on the capital this week killed and injured more than a dozen civilians.

Diplomats and analysts monitoring Libya say they’ve tracked surges of planes and ships loaded with military gear replenishing both sides in the conflict as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan draws to a close, potentially presaging a major confrontation.