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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that six citizens of Turkey, who were detained in Libya by the forces of Libyan National Army (LNA) General Khalifa Haftar, have been released.
The Ministry sources have confirmed that the released six people have returned to their ship with their company owner from Libya.
It was previously announced that six citizens of Turkey had been detained by the administration of Libya, where a civil war has been prevailing since Muammar Gaddafi was murdered in 2011.
As of early April this year, General Khalifa Haftar has started an attack against Libya's internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), which is chaired by Fayez al Sarraj.
Releasing a statement regarding the detention of six citizens of Turkey on its official website, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously warned that "Haftar elements would become legitimate targets."
Turkey: An act of banditry and piracy
The following statement was released by the Ministry yesterday (June 30):
"Detention of 6 Turkish citizens by Haftar's illegal militia in Libya is an act of banditry and piracy. We expect our citizens to be released immediately. Otherwise, Hafter elements will become legitimate targets."
While Khalifa Haftar is acting together with the Libyan House of Representatives based in Tobruk province near Libya-Egypt border and initiated an attack to occupy capital city of Tripoli in the past months, Turkey recognizes the Tripoli-based government, which is also recognized by the United Nations (UN) and international community.
'We don't know about the detention'
On the other side, General Ahmad al-Mismari, the Spokesperson for the Libyan Army, made a statement regarding the issue and said, "We do not know about the detention of Turks."
In April 2019, Haftar announced that he did not recognize the Libyan government and made a call for an armed struggle. Since then, at least 650 people have lost their lives in the ensuing conflicts.
Tension between Turkey and Haftar
* General Khalifa Haftar
As reported by BBC World, Turkey has been supporting the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) against Haftar on the ground that he is obtaining uncrewed aerial vehicles, weapons and lorries.
The country has been rejecting the Libyan National Army (LNA) of Haftar and banned commercial flights from Libya to Turkey.
'Turkish ships are legitimate targets'
Haftar's Spokesperson Ahmad al-Mismari previously made a statement and accused Turkey of aiding their rivals in their attempt to occupy Tripoli and stated that "Turkish ships would be legitimate targets."
He also declared that they would hinder commercial flights from Libya to Turkey and see the planes wanting to land in Tripoli as "enemies". Al-Mismari added that it would also be the case for the ships that would attempt to lay alongside Libyan coastline.
In response, Hulusi Akar, Minister of National Defense of Turkey, said that the LNA forces "would pay a heavy price" for their attacks against Turkey. (PT/SD)
