Turkey ready to confront hostilities in Libya

Turkey has taken all measures against possible hostile moves or threats, country’s minister of national defence said, referring to threats by the spokesman of Khalifa Haftar’s forces in Libya, as reported by Reuters.

“The price of hostile attitudes or attacks will be heavy, they will be responded with the most efficient and hard manner,” Hulusi Akar told Anadolu Agency in Osaka city of Japan, where he was part of Turkish president’s delegation in G20 Leaders’ Summit.

Akar said that Turkey focused on Libya’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, people’s peace and happiness and the national consensus spirit in the country; however, it would not turn a blind eye towards threats.

Minister of national defence emphasised that Turkey would always be part of peace and stability efforts in line with the international law to resolve disputes between conflicting elements of Libya.

READ: Renewed clashes between Libyan rival forces in Tripoli

Earlier on Friday, Haftar’s spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari announced a ban on commercial flights from Libya to Turkey and ordered his forces to attack Turkish ships and interests in the country.

Libya’s UN-recognised Government of National Accord on Wednesday recaptured the strategic city of Gharyan, south of Tripoli, from Haftar’s forces in a major loss for the renegade commander. Turkey has supported the UN-recognized government in Tripoli.

Haftar’s forces have so far been unsuccessful in seeking to capture Tripoli from the Government of National Accord in an offensive that began in April.

Nevertheless, his forces remain deployed in several areas around the capital.