Watiya strike: Libyans rally behind LNA against Turkish occupation

Public anger is raging in Libya against the Turkish
occupation. On July 5, hundreds gathered in a massive demonstration in Benghazi’s
Kish Square to protest Turkey’s interference in the country and to confirm their
support for Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) to
continue military operations against the occupier.
Against occupation
The demonstrators carried banners and chanted slogans denouncing
Turkey and its presence in Libya and demanding that Ankara not deal with their
country as an Ottoman state. They also chanted against Fayez al-Sarraj’s Government
of National Accord (GNA) because of its relations with Turkey.
The Libyans chants carried a clear message of support for
the LNA to work militarily to expel the terrorist and mercenary militias sent
by Turkey.
The protest captured the attention of Libyan politicians and
media, who consider it a clear message in rejection of the Turkish presence in
Libya. MP Saeed Amogheb stressed on his Facebook page that the Libyan people completely
denounce the Turkish invaders.
Army and people together
On the military side, LNA spokesman Brigadier Khaled al-Mahjoub
announced on July 5 that the Libyan Air Force attacked nine Turkish targets at the
Watiya airbase in the west of the country.
Mahjoub stated that the strikes successfully hit 80% of the
targets, managing to kill dozens of militants, including a senior Turkish
military commander and some Turkish military personnel who were working at the
base.
Injured Turkish soldiers were transferred to Tripoli, he
said, stressing that the LNA will not allow Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan to win the battle in Libya.
Implications of the strike
The strike on the airbase, which is close to the Tunisian
border, came just hours after Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar visited
Libya and inspected the GNA forces composed of terrorist militias and
mercenaries.
This sent an important military and political message to
Ankara that the LNA rejects the Turkish presence in the country and that Turkey
will not be allowed to continue its interference. Additionally, the targeting
of some of Erdogan's forces and destroying the air defense systems brought to
the base just a few hours after Akar had said Turkey will remain in Libya
forever Indicates that the LNA and Libyan people are adamant to fight against a
colonial takeover of their country.
Brigadier Samir Ragheb, director of the Arab Foundation for
Strategic Studies, said in a statement that the planes used to carry out the
strike were likely Russian MiG or French Rafale jets, stressing that they have
succeeded in achieving their goals and destroying the Turkish-supplied air
defense system at the base.
Meanwhile, the recognition of the strike by Turkey’s Anadolu
Agency silenced the media outlets that had been saying it was just a
psychological war, Regheb said, adding that the strike likely will prevent
Turkey from using its aircraft in the future to control the region.