Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun said, "Today, the tomb of Turgut Reis located in Tripoli is the symbol of the Turkish-Libyan friendship and fraternity."
Altun shared a post on his Twitter account, saying, "469 years ago today, Turgut Reis, one of the glorious commanders of the Ottoman Navy, besieged Tripoli and one day later, on August 15, 1551, conquered it. Today, the tomb of Turgut Reis located in Tripoli is the symbol of the Turkish-Libyan friendship and fraternity."
In the video clip featured in Fahrettin Altun's post, it was noted that "politicians who disremember their history are like a ship captain without a compass".
It was recalled in the video that the Ottoman State was mighty also at seas, besides on lands, in the 16th century, and the following remarks were noted: "The Ottoman mariners secured countless victories against the Crusader forces in every parcel of the Mediterranean, particularly Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia. Among the most important Ottoman mariners was Turgut Reis. Europeans called Turgut Reis as ‘Dragut’, namely ‘Dragon’, as the fear of him sailed all around the Mediterranean.”
In the video, which emphasized that after the occupation of Tripoli by Emperor Charles V, the Ottomans constantly conducted raids for the independence of the city, it was reminded that after 32 years of struggle, Turgut Reis conquered Tripoli with a glorious victory and integrated it into the Ottoman lands on August 15, 1551.
The post also indicated that Turgut Reis, the Conqueror of Tripoli, was appointed as the governor of the city, and noted the following:
"He united the coastal part of the country and the desert region socially, politically and economically. The city attained peace and prosperity during his period. Tripoli became the most important outpost of the Mediterranean for defending the Ottoman Empire and the Muslim world. During the Battle of Ponza on August 5, 1552, Turgut Reis defeated the Genoa fleet under the command of Andrea Doria. Following this victory, he was declared governor-general of the Mediterranean. Our historical and cultural ties with Libya dating back five centuries are the most meaningful answer to the question ‘Why are we there?’ The presence of Turkey in the region protects the unity and integrity of the Libyan people and ensures their independence and domestic peace. Today the tomb of Turgut Reis continues to stand upright as the common historical monument of Turkish-Libyan friendship. With the longest coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey’s initiatives in the Mediterranean are the strongest guarantees to protect national interests and peace. May Allah rest your soul in peace, Turgut Reis!"