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Ankara says ready to retaliate after Libya’s Haftar vows Turkish assets attack

Ankara will retaliate against any assault from Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar’s forces, which he had ordered to attack Turkish ships and interests in the country, Turkey’s defense minister said Sunday.
“There will be a very heavy price for hostile attitudes or attacks, we will retaliate in the most effective and strong way,” Hulusi Akar told Turkish state news agency Anadolu.
He said Turkey’s efforts in Libya sought to “contribute to peace and stability in the region.”
“It should be known that we have taken all kinds of measures to deal with any threat or antagonistic action against Turkey,” Akar added.
Haftar ordered his self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) to target Turkish ships and companies, ban flights and arrest Turkish nationals in Libya, his spokesman said Friday.
The LNA, which holds eastern Libya and much of the country’s south, launched an offensive to take the capital in early April.
The new threat came after anti-Haftar forces retook the strategic town of Gharyan in a surprise attack which was a blow to the strongman’s push for Tripoli.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed his country backs the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) and provides weapons to it under a “military cooperation agreement.”
He told reporters on June 20 that Turkish backing had allowed Tripoli to “rebalance” the fight against Haftar, who has the backing of the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.
Akar was in Japan with Erdogan for the G20 summit in Osaka. The president has yet to react to Haftar’s order.
When asked about the threat on Saturday, Erdogan said he was not aware of it, but Turkey would take necessary measures after evaluating the situation.
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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