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Turkey will target Haftar’s forces if he attacks its interests in Libya – ministry

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TRIPOLI, LIBYA – APRIL 10: Libyan National Accord Government troops clash with eastern Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar’s troops in Wadi al-Rabie area located at south of Tripoli, Libya on April 10, 2019. General Khalifa Haftar on April 04 announced the launch of an operation to seize the capital Tripoli. (Photo by Hazem Turkia/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Turkey said on Sunday it would deem the forces of Libyan General Khalifa Haftar “legitimate targets” if their attacks on its interests and diplomatic missions in Libya persisted.

Turkey backs Libya’s internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) and views Haftar’s forces as “putschists”.

In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that “if our missions and our interests in Libya are targeted, we will deem Haftar’s forces legitimate targets.”

It also said the attacks on Tripoli’s Mitiga airport early on Saturday, part of an intensified barrage of artillery fire on the capital, were war crimes.

On Thursday, Turkey and Italy said the area around their embassies in Tripoli was shelled.

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