Akar: Haftar forces will be targets if they attack Turkish troops

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar warned that the forces of Khalifah Haftar and their supporters based in eastern Libya would be considered as “legitimate targets” if they attempted to attack Turkish forces in the region.

“We know that Haftar is not alone. Those behind him are trying to do work that exceeds their size and ability. Haftar will get the appropriate response when the time is right. We’ll continue to support GNA,” Akar said.

Minister Akar and the commanders met with the Libyan Defense Minister Selahaddin en-Namroush, President of the High Council of State Khalid al-Mishri and Minister of Interior Fathi Bashagha.

Turkey supports the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya's ongoing conflict.

Turkish military intervention was approved by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on 2 January 2020, which passed a one-year mandate to deploy troops to Libya. Turkish military deployments to Libya began on 5 January.

Direct Turkish support for the Government of National Accord was generally on-the-ground advisers providing training and operational support, air support through unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), intelligence operatives and support from Turkish Navy vessels for Libyan ground forces.

In addition to its own troop and equipment deployments, Turkey was hiring and transporting Syrian mercenaries from the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army to support and bolster the manpower of the GNA since December 2019. (ILKHA)