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Libya

November 1, 2026

Tripoli 6:40 am

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Analysis

What's at stake as Libya's eastern parliament approves Turkey maritime deal

Libya's eastern-based parliament's approval of a long-disputed maritime deal with Turkey marks a strategic win for Ankara as Saddam Hifter seeks Turkish backing for his presidential ambitions, according to analysts.

Ezgi Akin

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

US Department of State's senior advisor to the President for Arab and African Affairs Massad Fares Boulos attends a conference for the support of peace and prosperity in the Great Lakes region, in Paris, on October 30, 2025. The international community gathered in Paris on October 30, 2025 to raise awareness about the dire humanitarian situation in the Great Lakes region, aiming to raise hundreds of millions of euros despite a drastic decrease in international aid, particularly from the United States. (Phot

Interview

Trump's Africa adviser denies Libya plan would entrench rival families

The reported unification plan for Libya has been met with pushback in a country torn apart by rival factions and foreign interference.

A commercial vessel is anchored off Yemen's coast at Bab al-Mandeb, in the straits connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean on Sept. 12, 2026.

Explainer

Saudi Yanbu halt deepens oil strain as Europe scrambles for crude

European crude importers are racing to secure new oil shipments as markets brace for the loss of up to 4% of global supplies into October following attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure.

Saddam Hifter meets with Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin

Russia’s Putin hosts Saddam Hifter amid instability in Libya: What to know

Moscow has built a strong relationship with Libya’s eastern camp, as Washington and Ankara pursue efforts to reunify the country’s political and military institutions.

Latest News

Analysis

Libya’s oil revival faces new test as violence returns amid US peace push

Libyan firefighting teams attempt to extinguish a fire at the Zawiya refinery, the second-largest oil refinery in Libya, with a refining capacity of 120,000 barrels per day, after a tank belonging to the state-owned Libyan Brega Oil Company was attacked by unknown perpetrators, in Zawiya, Libya, on Aug. 11, 2026.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Turkey’s Fidan heads to Libya as US-backed unification push gathers pace

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan met with Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity of Libya, in Tripoli on Aug. 11, 2026.

Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

In London, reporting on North Africa and Gulf politics

Mohamed Eljarh

Libya’s eastern-based government resigns amid Benghazi protests

Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani submitted the government's resignation on Sunday, a spokesperson for the eastern-based parliament said.

Wagner has already crashed two Russian fighter jets in Libya, AFRICOM says

Russian regular forces are likely present in Libya, AFRICOM's intelligence director said

EU stops Libya-bound ship suspected of violating arms embargo

European Union naval authorities inspected the merchant vessel after it departed from an Emirati port carrying suspected military fuel.

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.