Erdogan threatens Haftar that Turkey ready to take necessary action over detained Turks in Libya
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Turkey warned that forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar would become a “legitimate target” if a group of Turkish citizens that were detained over the weekend were not released immediately.
Earlier, a spokesperson for Haftar threatened to shoot down Turkish airplanes flying in the Libyan air space and destroy Turkish ships sailing in the Libyan territorial waters.
He also also threatened to arrest Turkish citizens and attack Turkish companies and interests in Libya, whilst declaring Turkey as an enemy state of their forces.
The Libya Express website reports that in all six Turkish citizens were detained by forces loyal to Haftar.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry warned that the detained Turks must be released immediately or Haftar’s forces will become legitimate targets.
Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his country will take all measures necessary in respect to the threats made by the spokesman of Haftar’s forces.
In the meantime, in territories under the control of Haftar’s forces, amongst them Benghazi, armed men have begun a campaign to remove all Turkish labels and signs, from restaurants, cafes, and shops.