Haftar orders forces to attack Turkish ships, interests in Libya
Tehran (KNA) - Libya's strongman Khalifa Haftar has ordered his forces to attack Turkish ships and interests in the North African state, his spokesman said Friday, accusing Ankara of supporting Haftar's rivals in the Libyan conflict.
"Orders have been given to the air force to target Turkish ships and boats in Libyan territorial waters," said General Ahmad al-Mesmari.
"Turkish strategic sites, companies and projects belonging to the Turkish state (in Libya) are considered legitimate targets by the armed forces," he added.
He also declared that any aircraft arriving from Turkey attempting to land in the capital Tripoli would be treated as hostile. The same would apply to Turkish ships docking at Libyan ports.
The spokesman said Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) force would attack any Turkish military presence, without elaborating.
Turkey supports Libya's internationally recognized government in Tripoli which on Wednesday dealt a blow to eastern forces trying to seize the capital in a three-month campaign.
Turkey has supplied drones and trucks to forces allied to UN-backed Tripoli Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj, while the LNA has received support from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, according to diplomats.
Source: PressTV