2020 Al-Watiya airstrike

2020 Al-Watiya airstrike
Part of the Second Libyan Civil War
Type	Air strike
Location	Al-Watiya Air Base, Libya
Target	Turkish military equipment
Date	4 July 2020
Executed by	Libyan National Army United Arab Emirates (alleged) Egypt (alleged)
Casualties	MIM-23 Hawk system destroyed

On 4 July 2020, forces of the Libyan National Army (LNA) launched airstrikes on Al-Watiya Air Base in the desert southwest of Tripoli, destroying Turkish military equipment, including anti-air defences, sent from Turkey to the Government of National Accord (GNA).

Airstrike

This attack destroyed the MIM-23 Hawk air defence systems and the Koral system just two days after Turkey deployed them in the air base. Turkey remained a major supporter of the GNA, supplying drones and deploying thousands of Syrian mercenaries, including militants affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Turkish officials condemned the airstrikes and vowed "retribution". One Turkish official said the aircraft were likely to be Dassault Mirage fighters belonging to the United Arab Emirates. Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said Egypt "will not allow the conflict in Libya to cross the Sirte line" and that "with regard to Egypt’s security, al-Jufra is a red line that we will not allow any force to cross".