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Ankara says ready to retaliate after Libya’s Haftar vows Turkish assets
attack
ANKARA, June 30, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Ankara will retaliate against any
assault from Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar’s forces, which he had ordered
to attack Turkish ships and interests in the country, Turkey’s defence
minister said Sunday.
“There will be a very heavy price for hostile attitudes or attacks, we will
retaliate in the most effective and strong way,” Hulusi Akar told Turkish
state news agency Anadolu.
He said Turkey’s efforts in Libya sought to “contribute to peace and
stability in the region”.
“It should be known that we have taken all kinds of measures to deal with
any threat or antagonistic action against Turkey,” Akar added.
Haftar ordered his self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) to target
Turkish ships and companies, ban flights and arrest Turkish nationals in
Libya, his spokesman said Friday.
The LNA, which holds eastern Libya and much of the country’s south,
launched an offensive to take the capital in early April.
The new threat came after anti-Haftar forces retook the strategic town of
Gharyan in a surprise attack which was a blow to the strongman’s push for
Tripoli.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed his country backs the
internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) and provides
weapons to it under a “military cooperation agreement”.
He told reporters on June 20 that Turkish backing had allowed Tripoli to
“rebalance” the fight against Haftar, who has the backing of the United Arab
Emirates and Egypt.
Akar was in Japan with Erdogan for the G20 summit in Osaka. The president
has yet to react to Haftar’s order.
When asked about the threat on Saturday, Erdogan said he was not aware of
it, but Turkey would take necessary measures after evaluating the situation.
BSS/AFP/RY/1755 hrs