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Libya

June 16, 2026

Tripoli 4:53 am

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An oil refinery in the northern Libyan town of Ras Lanuf, June 3, 2020.

Analysis

Iran oil shock jolts Libya’s fortunes, but old fault lines complicate national recovery

Soaring energy prices due to the Iran war are delivering a windfall to Libya just as the country's oil and gas sectors show signs of resurgence.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Abdullah DOMA / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

US, Turkey boost Libya coordination, but unity push faces political hurdles

Washington and Ankara are stepping up coordination on efforts to unify Libya’s divided institutions, but analysts warn that major financial and political obstacles remain.

Ezgi Akin

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

Latest News

In first, Libya’s rival armies to join drill in Turkey: What to know

Cadets of the Saiqa Force (Special Forces) of the self-styled Libyan National Army affiliated with eastern strongman Khalifa Hifter take part in a graduation ceremony in tribute to the force's late commander, Wanis Bukhamada, in the eastern city of Benghazi, on Jan. 20, 2022.

Analysis

Italy, Spain eye Algerian gas as Iran war slashes Gulf supplies

The president of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, visited the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, March 25, 2026, where she met with the president of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, at the El Mouradia Presidential Palace.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Turkey backs Libya in legal challenge to Greece-Chevron offshore deal

A general view taken on April 4, 2014, shows oil tanker Morning Glory, during the unloading of oil in the Libyan seaport of Zawiya.

Analysis

Libya’s oil revival powers on despite shaky investment thesis

Masoud Suleman, acting chairman of Libya's National Oil Corporation, and other corporate representatives pose for a photo during a conference announcing the first new grants of oil exploration and production licenses in 17 years, in Libya's capital, Tripoli, on Feb. 11, 2026.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

In London, reporting on North Africa and Gulf politics

Mohamed Eljarh

Migrants are pictured in the Libyan town of Tajura, about 14 kilometres east of the capital Tripoli, after some 240 illegal migrants of different African nationalities were rescued from the Mediterranean late on February 18, 2020. (Photo by Mahmud TURKIA / AFP) (Photo by MAHMUD TURKIA/AFP via Getty Images)

UN chief urges Libya to shut migrant detention centers

Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general, said 22% of those detained in Libya's holding facilities for migrants are children.

Members of the self-proclaimed eastern Libyan National Army (LNA) special forces gather in the city of Benghazi, on their way to reportedly back up fellow LNA fighters on the frontline west of the city of Sirte, facing forces loyal to the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), on June 18, 2020. - The resurgent GNA has vowed to push on for Sirte, late Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi's hometown and the last major settlement before the traditional boundary between western Libya and strongman Khalifa H

Russia increased Wagner deployments as Hifter’s offensive faltered, UN report says

A new UN report backs US claims that Russia sent more fighters to Libya as Turkey intervened against Hifter.

A fighter loyal to Libya's UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) poses for a picture while seated in the turret a technical (pickup truck mounted with turret) in the town of Tarhuna, about 65 kilometres southeast of the capital Tripoli on June 5, 2020, after the area was taken over by pro-GNA forces from rival forces loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar. - The GNA said on June 5 that it was back in full control of Tarhouna, the last stronghold of the forces of eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar. The

Libya at ‘critical juncture’ as foreign sponsors defy arms embargo, UN warns

UN acting Libya Envoy Stephanie Williams told the Security Council that foreign powers are fortifying their assets at air bases in the east and west of the war-torn country.

Prime Minister of Libya's UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj (R) meets with Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu at the GNA's presidential headquarters in the capital Tripoli on June 17, 2020. (Photo by - / AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

What is Turkey’s role in Tripoli political tremor?

The power struggle inside the Tripoli government is drawing Turkey into a political brouhaha with unpredictable consequences.

President of the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord of Libya Faiez Mustafa Serraj delivers a speech at the UN Human Rights Council's main annual session on February 24, 2020 in Geneva. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

Intel: Libya’s Sarraj suspends interior minister, fracturing Tripoli government

Fathi Bashagha has requested an investigation into his alleged conduct be televised.

Libyans chant slogans during a demonstration due to poor public services at the Martyrs' Square at the centre of the GNA-held Libyan capital Tripoli on August 25, 2020. - Angered by chronic water, power, and petrol shortages in a country with Africa's largest proven crude oil reserves, the mostly young people had marched through the city centre chanting slogans including "No to corruption!" (Photo by - / AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Libya's Tripoli authorities mandate 24-hour curfew to stem protests

A round-the-clock lockdown underway in Libya follows days of anti-government protests in the capital city.

TOPSHOT - Members of the Salah Bou-Haliqa brigade, loyal to the country's east strongman Khalifa Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army, celebrate as they arrive in the eastern city of Benghazi after seizing the central al-Jufra area from the Benghazi Defence Brigades coalition, a rival to Haftar's forces on June 5, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Abdullah DOMA (Photo credit should read ABDULLAH DOMA/AFP via Getty Images)

Libyan cease-fire casts cloud over Erdogan’s ambitions

Having failed to advance its military intervention in Libya, Ankara has grudgingly endorsed a cease-fire in the conflict, but its ambitions appear intact for the process down the road.

Hifter’s forces rebuff Tripoli’s call for cease-fire in Libya war

LNA spokesman Maj. Gen. Ahmed al-Mismari said Tripoli's call for a cease-fire is not serious.

Egyptian parliament members attend a general session in the capital Cairo on July 20, 2020. - Egypt's parliament greenlighted behind a closed-doors session later today, the possible deployment of troops in Libya to support Cairo's ally Khalifa Haftar, if rival Turkish-backed forces recapture the city of Sirte, the house said. (Photo by - / AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

What messages did Egypt’s top military official carry to Libya’s Hifter?

The head of Egypt’s military intelligence agency visited military strongman Khalifa Hifter in Libya, coinciding with visits by Turkish and Qatari officials to the rival Tripoli-based government.

Fighters loyal to the UN-recognised Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) ride in a technical (pickup truck mounted with turret) along a road in the Qasr bin Ghashir district south of the Libyan capital Tripoli on June 4, 2020, after the area was taken over by pro-GNA forces following clashes with rival forces loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar. - The GNA said on June 4 that it was back in full control of the capital and its suburbs after more than a year of fighting off an offensive by eastern strongma

Libyan sides declare cease-fire, call for return to political process

Libya's Tobruk-based government reciprocated a call for a cease-fire by the UN-backed government in Tripoli, in a potential breakthrough for peace.

Egyptian fishermen, who had entered the Libyan waters with out permission, gather at the port in the Libyan city of Misrata on April 2, 2015, following the order of their release after three months in detention. A Libyan maritime official said the release came after coordinating with their families and Egyptian authorities. AFP PHOTO / MAHMUD TURKIA (Photo credit should read MAHMUD TURKIA/AFP via Getty Images)

Egyptian families worry for fishermen detained in Libya

As tensions escalate between Egypt and Libya, the fate of 35 Egyptian fishermen detained in Misrata remains unknown.

TOPSHOT - An armed policeman standds guard after migrants disembarked from the Motor Tanker El Hiblu 1 that was hijacked by migrants in Valletta's Grand Harbour on March 28, 2019, after Maltese armed forces took control of the vessel. - The intervention came after migrants hijacked a merchant ship that rescued them off the coast of Libya and ordered it to head towards Italy, the Italian government said on March 27, 2019. (Photo by JONATHAN BORG / AFP) (Photo by JONATHAN BORG/AFP via Getty Images)

Can Malta’s diplomacy tip balance in Libya toward Turkey?

The diplomatic track ongoing between Turkey, Malta and Libya’s Tripoli government has sparked questions whether Valletta’s diplomatic support can serve as a much needed jumping point for Ankara to break the Libya stalemate, but the European country’s only focus in the talks seem to be limited with prevention of illegal immigration.