Haftar’s forces ban Libya-Turkey flights, will target Turkish ships, aircraft and citizens in Libya

The spokesman for Khalifa Haftar’s forces in eastern Libya, Ahmed Al-Mismari, said his commander (Haftar) announced a ban on any commercial flights from Libya to Turkey and will prevent any Turkish ships from docking in the country.

Al-Mismari said in a weekly presser that any aircraft arriving from Turkey attempting to land in the capital Tripoli would be treated as hostile, adding that the same would apply to Turkish ships docking at Libyan ports.

“Libyan National Army (LNA) force would attack any Turkish military presence, without elaborating.” Al-Mismari said.

Al-Mismari indicated that Haftar’s forces had lost 43 soldiers in the battle over the town of Gharyan which the Tripoli forces took on Wednesday.

Gharyan was the main forward base for Haftar’s forces, where weapons and ammunition arrived.

Tirkey has voiced support for the UN-backed Government of National Accord, with President Erdogan saying he would help defend legitimacy in Libya with all means possible.

Haftar is backed by the UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and France. Captured fighters in Gharyan included also Chadian and Sudanes mercenaries.

Some of the fighters captures in Gharyan also admitted that the operations room in the city was managed by a number of UAE and French military experts.