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The Turkish Foreign Ministry has successfully facilitated the return of 82 Turkish citizens from Libya's capital Tripoli amid ongoing clashes and deteriorating security conditions.
According to information obtained from Foreign Ministry sources, a contingency plan was implemented to assist Turkish citizens who wished to leave Tripoli due to the violence and security concerns. The 82 citizens were safely transported by air back to Türkiye on Saturday.
Following the initial evacuation of 82 citizens, an additional group of Turkish nationals arrived at Istanbul Airport as part of the ongoing evacuation efforts. A Turkish Airlines flight carrying 250 people, including women and children, landed at Istanbul Airport at 4:50 p.m. on Saturday after departing from Mitiga Airport in Tripoli.
The evacuees included temporary residents in Libya and company representatives who had traveled to Tripoli to participate in the Libya Build 2025 Fair.
Erkan Akinci, who has been working in Libya's construction sector for four years, expressed relief upon arrival in Istanbul. "The fighting was quite intense this time. It started with the killing of a commander and turned into a show of force between two powers. Later, people took to the streets saying 'We don't want war.' The public has been on the streets for two nights," Akinci said.
He added, "The state took care of us there. They were in contact with us from the moment the clashes first broke out. This morning they called us to the embassy. From there, they brought us safely to the airport by bus. We're happy to be reunited with our families. After all, there is a state of war there. They can fire without targeting."
Muslim Ayan, who works as an occupational health and safety chief at a company in Libya, said they had to return to Türkiye due to the clashes.
"After the events began, we closed the construction site and moved to a hotel. Then we contacted the consulate. With the consulate's guidance and within their plan, our mass transfer to Türkiye was arranged. We came to Türkiye safely with the help of the consulate," Ayan stated.
Furkan Koksal, an export manager attending the Libya Build 2025 Fair, described how the situation deteriorated: "The events began on the night connecting the first day of the fair to the second. After midnight, bombardments, clashes, and gunfire continued until morning. I can say we didn't sleep at all."
He praised the coordination between Turkish authorities: "Everyone was coordinated—the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the embassy, our fair company... We didn't experience any problems."
The violence in Tripoli erupted after Abdulgani al-Kikli, leader of the Stability Support Unit militia, was killed on May 12, triggering clashes in the capital.
Shortly afterward, the government announced that the 444th Brigade, under the Defense Ministry, had taken control of the Stability Support Unit's central headquarters in the Abu Salim area of Tripoli.
Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh congratulated army and police personnel on May 13 for their success in establishing state authority during the events in Tripoli.
Fighting broke out in the early hours of May 14 between government forces and the powerful "Rada" militia group. The Libyan Defense Ministry later announced a ceasefire in all conflict zones in Tripoli as part of efforts to protect civilians.
According to Muhammad Abdulwahab, the Health Affairs Officer of Tripoli Municipality, six people were killed and 70 others were wounded during the two days of clashes.
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