General Khalifa Haftar, commander of the militia known as the “Libyan National Army”, announced the imminent attack on Turkish forces and announced the readiness of the elements under his command in this regard.
Stating that the attack on Turkish forces and its mercenaries is imminent, he stressed that there is no option for the Turks other than to leave Libya peacefully or by war.
Haftar called on elements under his command to be ready to drive Turkish troops and foreign militias out of Libyan territory.
“We must aim our firearms at Turkey,” he said.
The Turkish parliament has already agreed to an 18-month extension of its mission in Libya, as the United Nations seeks to find a political solution to the Libyan crisis.
Libya has been facing widespread political tensions and military clashes since 2011 following a popular uprising and a military offensive by NATO forces aimed at ousting then-dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
The country was eventually divided into eastern and western parts. In the western part of Tripoli, a government called “National Accord” headed by Fayez Al-Seraj has taken office, which is approved and supported by the United Nations and some countries, including Turkey, Qatar and Italy and in the east and south, the retired general, Khalifa Haftar, has taken over, backed by countries such as Saudi Arabia, Russia, France, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Greece and Cyprus.