Historic: Long-time Libyan Rivals Unite, Syrian Army Debuts Under Turkish Command

Turkey is increasingly demonstrating its ambition as a regional military power by expanding its strategic influence across the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia through the multinational EFES-2026 military exercise held along the Aegean coast near İzmir. The large-scale joint exercise serves as a key platform for Ankara to showcase its defence diplomacy and military projection capabilities amid escalating regional geopolitical competition. For the first time, Libya and Syria have deployed military personnel to an overseas military exercise in EFES-2026. Their presence is seen as a sign of Turkey’s growing influence in restructuring security in a region long plagued by conflict. The EFES-2026 live-fire drill runs until 21 May under the coordination of Turkey’s Aegean Land Command. The event involves over 10,000 personnel from approximately 50 countries and is one of the largest military exercises ever held by Ankara. The exercise is divided into two phases: a computer-based simulation in April and live-fire drills in the Gulf of İzmir and Doğanbey areas. Libya’s participation has been a major focus. A total of 502 Libyan soldiers from the country’s eastern and western factions trained together under a single Libyan national flag. This marks the first overseas deployment involving both sides, which previously clashed in a protracted civil war. The Turkish government described the moment as a concrete step toward its ‘One Libya, One Army’ vision, which Ankara has long advocated. Libyan personnel received training in amphibious operations, special forces tactics, combat diving, mine and improvised explosive device (IED) handling, as well as combat search and rescue. In addition to ground forces, Libya’s Combattante II G Shafak-class patrol vessel also participated in the maritime phase of the exercise.