جهاز تنظيف الأسنان بالماء
وفر 23%! اشترِ جهاز تنظيف الأسنان بالماء بسعر 248 د.ل فقط في ليبيا. متوفر حالياً
🛒 تسوق الآنLibya Joins 50 Nations in Turkey's EFES 2026 Military Drills
Libya has sent 502 military personnel to participate in Turkey's EFES 2026 combined joint exercises — marking the first time Libyan forces from rival eastern and western factions have trained together under one flag outside their homeland.
A Historic Step for Libyan Military Unity
The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced on May 20, 2026, that Libya is taking part in the biennial EFES 2026 drills being held across western Turkey, including the Gulf of Izmir and the Doğanbey Live-Fire Training Area. The Libyan contingent consists of 331 personnel from eastern Libya and 171 from western Libya, alongside the fast-attack craft Shafak.
Turkish Defense Ministry spokesperson Zeki Aktürk described the participation as a significant milestone, noting that forces from both sides of Libya's political divide are training side by side "under one flag for the first time outside Libyan territory." The exercises are part of ongoing military cooperation and training programs between the Turkish and Libyan armed forces.
Scope of the EFES 2026 Exercises
EFES 2026 is Turkey's largest combined live-fire military exercise of the year, running from April 20 to May 21, 2026. The drills bring together more than 10,000 troops and observers from approximately 50 countries, including NATO allies such as the United States, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, as well as partners from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
The exercise includes a computer-assisted command-post phase and a live-fire field phase, testing interoperability across land, naval, and air forces. Participating units engage in amphibious operations, armored and mechanized force movements, naval gunfire support, close air support missions, and reconnaissance and surveillance drills.
Training Programs for Libyan Forces
The Libyan personnel are undergoing comprehensive training programs covering boat operations, mine and explosive ordnance handling, fortification and survival techniques, special forces operations, first aid and medical treatment, amphibious operations, electronic and mechanical warfare systems, and search and rescue missions in combat zones.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense emphasized that the exercises aim to enhance coordination and operational integration between the two sides within the framework of ongoing military cooperation and training programs. The participation aligns with Turkey's stated vision of supporting a "single and unified Libya."
Second Joint Exercise in Weeks
The EFES 2026 participation marks the second time in a matter of weeks that Libya's rival military factions have trained together in a multinational exercise. Earlier in April 2026, forces aligned with the Government of National Unity in Tripoli and the Tobruk-based Libyan National Army both took part in the US-led Flintlock 2026 special forces exercise held in Sirte, Libya.
Defense analysts view the back-to-back joint exercises as an accelerating trend of rapprochement between Libya's divided military establishments. The Government of National Unity and the Libyan National Army have been engaged in a fragile process of military unification following years of armed conflict.
Turkey's Strategic Role in Libya
Turkey has maintained a significant military presence in Libya since 2020, when it deployed forces to support the UN-recognized Government of National Unity against the Libyan National Army's assault on Tripoli. Ankara continues to play a central role in Libya's security landscape, providing military training, equipment, and advisory support to Libyan forces.
The EFES 2026 exercises also carry broader geopolitical significance. Alongside Libya, Syria is participating in the drills for the first time since the fall of the decades-long Baathist regime, signaling evolving regional military partnerships. The inclusion of both nations reflects Turkey's expanding defense diplomacy across the Middle East and North Africa.
International Participation Highlights
Beyond Libya and Syria, EFES 2026 features participation from a diverse array of nations. Approximately 1,398 guest personnel from 50 countries are taking part, including forces from Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Japan, Sweden, Somalia, Rwanda, Egypt, and several NATO member states. The exercise serves as one of Ankara's most visible military diplomacy platforms of the year.
The distinguished observer day on May 20-21 will feature live-fire exercises showcasing participating forces and Turkish defense industry systems.
Libya's participation represents a notable step in military engagement with international partners and a rare moment of unity between rival armed factions.
