Turkish Parliament Authorizes Government to Send Troops to Libya

(Bloomberg) -- Turkey’s parliament authorized the government to deploy troops in Libya to back the internationally-recognized government against rival forces, deepening a proxy war that’s drawn in Russia and regional powers.

The deployment under the one-year mandate approved on Thursday is expected to support Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj’s Tripoli-based government against forces aligned with eastern commander Khalifa Haftar, which are backed by Russian mercenaries, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Turkey’s involvement could complicate international efforts to end the divisions that have roiled the country since the overthrow of strongman Moammar Qaddafi in 2011.

--With assistance from Asli Kandemir.

To contact the reporters on this story: Firat Kozok in Ankara at fkozok@bloomberg.net;Selcan Hacaoglu in Ankara at shacaoglu@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Onur Ant at oant@bloomberg.net

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