ANKARA, August 17. /TASS/. Turkey has leased the port of Khoms in northwestern Libya for a period of 99 years to deploy a military base there, TGRT television reported, citing sources.

The move is said to help Turkey strengthen its sovereignty in the Eastern Mediterranean, boost control of the country’s territorial waters and ensure the security of its merchant vessels.

Turkey will reportedly station combat drones and air defense systems at a base to be built in the region.