Turkey is training pilots of the Government of National Accord (GNA) on UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, supporters of the Tripoli-based government claimed on July 1.
Pro-government activists apparently based their claims on a recent video showing two S-70 Seahawk helicopters of the Turkish Naval Forces flying over the city of Misrata. The helicopters, which took off from Turkish warships stationed off Libya’s coast, were just transporting senior officers.
https://t.co/6sFgSoZMOA#Turkish navy commander was on board he used them to travel between #Misurata and #Tripoli .#Libya pic.twitter.com/af5mq215Lx
— Ouais Hasairi (@HasairiOuais) July 1, 2020
The S-70 helicopter is the naval version of the UH-60. Both helicopters share the same design line, which again explains the origins of the false claims being promoted by pro-GNA activists.
Turkey can’t supply (at least officially) U.S.-made military equipment to the GNA, which is included in an arms embargo imposed by the U.N. Security Council.
Pro-GNA activists are apparently making up these claims to promote Ankara as a strong ally and magnify the support provided by it. The Syrian opposition has been spreading similar propaganda since late 2011.