The threats by forces aligned with East Libya-based commander Khalifa Haftar toward Turkey is a “declaration of war” on Ankara, Libya’s High Council of State said on Saturday.
DECLARATION OF WAR
The council in a statement described the threats as “a blow to relations with a country that cooperates with Libya in many areas and constitutes a large part of the country’s total imports”. “Any attack on our friends, especially the Turks, will be regarded as harming our national security and will be resisted,” the statement said.
The council also requested the UN to take measures to deter Haftar’s forces, adding that it would continue relations with Turkey within the framework of bilateral agreements.
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-recognized 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.