The Vice President of the Supreme Council of Libyan Tribes, Al-Senussi Al-Haliq called on Ankara to withdraw its military forces from Libya, warning that Turkish troops “would return home in coffins.”
Al-Haliq said in press statements that the recent visit of Turkish Defence Minister, Hulusi Akar to Tripoli aimed to undermine any peace process in Libya. He added that the Libyan tribes supported national dialogue and rejected foreign interference. He denounced the Turkish mobilization of mercenaries near the city of Sirte and eastern Misrata.
On Friday, the Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar visited Tripoli, and held meetings with senior military officials of the Government of National Accord (GNA).
Akar threatened the Libyan National Army (LNA) and its leader that they would be viewed as “legitimate targets”, if they attacked Turkish troops stationed in western Libya. This was two days after the Commander-in-Chief of the LNA, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, urged his fighters to drive out Turkish forces from the oil-rich country.