Six Turkish citizens that had been detained in Libya by forces loyal to commander Khalifa Haftar were released on Monday, the Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson said.
The release of the six came following a warning from Istanbul that the eastern Libyan militia would become a “legitimate target” if the detainees were not released.
“If our citizens are not released immediately, those responsible will become a legitimate target and the consequences will be severe,” Vice President Fuat Oktay said early Monday.
said.
Haftar’s forces had last week announced a ban on ships and flights operating between Libya and Turkey, threatening to attack any vessels that defied the ban.
“Orders have been given to the air force to target Turkish ships and boats in Libyan territorial waters,” Haftar’s spokesperson Ahmed al-Mismari said on Friday, adding that “Turkish strategic sites, companies and projects belonging to the Turkish state (in Libya) are considered legitimate targets by the armed forces”.
Libya has been beset by heightened violence since April, as Haftar’s forces attempt to take over the capital, Tripoli, from forces allied to UN-recognized Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarra.
The North African country has been dogged by violence since 2011, following the ouster and death of former president Muammar Gaddafi. The war has killed thousands and displaced millions as militant groups and human trafficking cells seek to impose their command in various regions across the country.
