Turkey on Sunday vowed to respond to any attacks on its vessels or interests after eastern Libyan forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar captured six of its citizens. The Turkish foreign ministry has threatened to take military action in the conflict-ravaged North African country unless they’re freed, reported BBC.
“We expect our citizens to be immediately released,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Turkey supports the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, GNA, and supplies drones, weapons and trucks to boost its efforts in the ongoing conflict with Gen Haftar’s forces, which control most of the east and south of Libya.
On Friday, Gen Haftar’s forces said they would attack Turkish targets over Turkish support for the internationally recognized Libyan government. The LNA has received aid from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, and France.
LNA spokesperson Ahmed al-Mismari said Haftar has banned commercial flights from Libya to Turkey and ordered his forces to attack Turkish ships and interests in the country. Libya’s parliament, which is based in the east and allied with Hafter’s forces, has also barred all ministries, state institutions, and banks from dealing with Turkish companies and ordered a ban on trade with Turkey.
The LNA on Sunday claimed they had destroyed a Turkish drone in a strike on an airport in Tripoli.
“Our fighter (jets) targeted and destroyed a Turkish Bayraktar aircraft as it was taking off” from Mitiga airport, Haftar’s Libyan National Army said in a statement on Facebook on Sunday.
“The aircraft had been prepared to target our armed forces’ positions,” it said.
Libya has been facing violence and division since long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi was killed in 2011. Gen Haftar launched an offensive against the GNA in April.
Last week, the GNA reclaimed the strategic town of Gharyan, the main supply base for Gen Haftar’s forces in their offensive on Tripoli.
