TRIPOLI
Sources in the Libyan capital Tripoli told The Arab Weekly that Turkey has rejected a proposal to temporarily withdraw its forces from inside Mitiga Airbase until militias loyal to Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah complete their mission of targeting the Special Deterrence Force (Radaa), which controls the airport and prison located inside the base.
The sources confirmed that Turkish forces continue their routine activity inside the base, showing no signs of any extraordinary movements in the coming days. This, they said, sent a clear message from Ankara to Dbeibah: to warn his allied militias against approaching Mitiga Airbase.
They added that since May, Dbeibah, the head of the Government of National Unity (GNU), whose mandate has expired, has made repeated attempts to persuade the Turkish authorities to withdraw their troops from Mitiga to allow his government to extend its influence over positions held by Radaa, particularly the prison that holds members of al-Qaeda and ISIS, whom Grand Mufti Sadiq al-Ghariani has been calling to release as soon as possible.
According to sources close to the government, the Turkish stance forced the ministry of defence of the GNU to backtrack on its earlier position and declare that it has no intention of launching any military operation against Mitiga Airbase in Tripoli. This effectively dismissed widespread reports of an imminent assault on the base.
The ministry further claimed that the statement attributed to it, giving Radaa a final ultimatum, was fabricated and unrelated to it. This, however, opened serious questions about the GNU’s ability to take decisions it deems appropriate for the situation in Tripoli and western Libya.
Local media had earlier reported that Dbeibah’s government imposed seven conditions on Radaa to end the paralysis of state institutions, including handing over Mitiga prison and Mitiga airport, surrendering wanted persons to justice, transferring the military prosecutor’s office, and regulating the force’s security powers, particularly banning arrests without authorisation from the Attorney General’s Office.
The ministry of defence reportedly gave Radaa 48 hours to comply fully with these conditions. The deadline passed without any announcement that Radaa had vacated its positions inside Mitiga, while residents of Souq Al Juma’a asserted that the government’s conditions were unrealistic.
Nevertheless, acting Deputy Defence Minister Abdulsalam al-Zoubi, known for his closeness to Dbeibah, claimed in a statement that Radaa had agreed in principle to the framework of the government’s conditions before the deadline, in what appeared to be an attempt to contain mounting tensions in the capital.
Meanwhile, the Defence and National Security Committee of the House of Representatives issued a statement on the unfolding events in Tripoli, expressing deep concern over military build-ups in residential areas, warning that such movements increase instability and spread fear among civilians.
The committee stressed that such actions do not serve the national interest but instead push the capital towards chaos. It urged all parties to prioritise the higher interest of the country over narrow calculations, to embrace reason and peace, and to end these irresponsible actions.
The committee also pledged to coordinate with the Joint Military Committee (5+5) to follow developments in Tripoli, insisting the committee must take a clear and firm stance on what is happening in western Libya.
MP Abdel-Monem Al-Arfi warned that any new war would be borne by ordinary Libyans, arguing that the proliferation of weapons and security chaos will prevent the establishment of a state of institutions or law. He placed responsibility on the Presidential Council and on Dbeibah’s expired government.
Arfi also criticised remarks by Major General Khaled al-Mahjoub, pointing to alliances between him and Dbeibah aimed at dismantling Radaa and releasing prisoners, a step he warned would lead to a total security breakdown.
He further called on Abdelraouf Kara, head of Radaa, to hand over his responsibilities to the 5+5 Committee, represented by General Mohamed al-Haddad, noting that the UN mission oversees the institutional unification process. He concluded: “We pray for the safety of our people; these are Libyan lives at stake. Such mobilisations and vast stockpiles of weapons should be directed at those who violate our homeland’s soil, not used between Libyans for narrow interests.”