Turkey on Tuesday condemned the interception of one of its ships by eastern-based Libyan forces in the Mediterranean, saying it must be allowed to resume its journey to western Libya and warning of possible reprisal.
Khalifa Haftar's eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) said on Monday it intercepted the Turkish ship Mabrouka, under a Jamaican flag, heading to the port of Misrata.
A Turkish source said the vessel was carrying medicine and medical products.
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Eastern-based Libyan forces have intercepted a Turkish ship under a Jamaican flag heading to the port of Misrata in western Libya, their spokesman said, in what could be a new flashpoint in the conflict after weeks of truce.
ReplyDeleteThe vessel, called Mabruka, was “being investigated for its violations of maritime laws and regulations,” Ahmed al-Mismari, spokesman for the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) said late on Monday on his social media account.
Ankara has condemned the seizure of a Turkish vessel in the Mediterranean by forces from east Libya, promising a robust response to the interception and calling for the ship to be allowed to continue its journey.
Delete“Targeting Turkish interests in Libya will have grave consequences, and these elements (who target Turkish interests) will be viewed as legitimate targets,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
The ministry “strongly condemned” the move, stressing that the vessel should be allowed resume its planned voyage “immediately,” and adding that the ship had been fined and the crew detained.