An article in “Forbes” magazine by Paul Aidon reviews an analysis of Turkish intentions towards the Azerbaijani and Libyan airports after its interference in the ongoing conflicts in the two countries.
The article notes that the recent Turkish military activity at airports in Azerbaijan and Libya raises questions about Ankara’s goals in those countries and the conflicts currently engulfed in them.
Forbes pointed out that Ankara and in early October, with the intensification of the conflict in which Turkey supported Azerbaijan against Armenia over the disputed “Nagorno Karabakh” region, which broke out again on September 27 and witnessed the heaviest fighting in that region since 1994, it continued to mobilize it at Al-Wattayah air based controlled by the Government of National Accord, and a Turkish Air Force C-130E transport plane was spotted flying from the Etimesgut air base near Ankara to Al-Wataya in a cargo whose content is still unclear.
The magazine said, in its report, that this Turkish move indicates that Ankara has big plans in Al-Wataya, which its ally, the Government of National Accord, seized from the National Army forces, in an attack supported by Turkish drone strikes in May.
Ankara has now started work to extend the length of the base runway to accommodate larger aircraft more easily. After Ankara delivered US-made MIM-23 Hawk short-range air defense missile systems to the strategically important air base in early July, these air defense batteries were damaged in an unidentified air strike.
It is still unclear, according to Forbes, to what extent Turkey wants to move forward with its military build-up in Libya, which helped decisively turn the tables in the struggle in favor of the “reconciliation” government, but the air strike on Al-Watiya base was likely a warning of Supporters of the National Army for foreigners that they will not tolerate a larger and more advanced Turkish military presence in the country.
However, without a massive air defense network in western Libya, such a deployment would be extremely risky for Turkish aircraft.
On Turkish involvement in the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia; Forbes says that satellite images taken on October 3 showed two F-16 fighters parked at Ganga International Airport in Azerbaijan.
According to the “New York Times” newspaper, analysis of the satellite imagery concluded that the planes were most likely belonging to the Turkish Air Force and that the Azerbaijani Air Force did not possess any F-16s. The images also showed what appeared to be a “CN-235” transport plane. ; The newspaper concluded that it may also belong to Turkey.
“Forbes” indicated that the extent of Turkey’s military intervention in this conflict is still unclear. Turkey supports Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia over the disputed “Nagorno Karabakh” region, which erupted again on September 27 and witnessed the heaviest fighting in that region since 1994.
