The warning comes less than two weeks after EU-sanctioned German commandos boarded Turkish ship in the Mediterranean to enforce a UN arms embargo on Libya.
Turkey has aggressive ambitions in Libya. Observers say “Erdogan hopes to shape a Libya that can preserve Turkey’s political and economic dominance in the region.” He has already been working with Qatar in Libya, setting up a military training camp to train Muslim Brotherhood troops.
“Turkey condemns seizure of vessel by east Libyan forces,” Al Jazeera, December 8, 2020:
Turkey has condemned the interception of one of its ships by eastern-based Libyan forces in the Mediterranean Sea, saying it must be allowed to resume its journey while warning of reprisals.
Khalifa Haftar’s eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) said on Monday it intercepted the Turkish ship Mabrouka, under a Jamaican flag, that was heading to the port of Misrata.
A Turkish source said on Tuesday the vessel was carrying medicine and medical products.
In a statement, Turkey’s foreign ministry said steps to ensure the vessel resumes its journey must be taken immediately and warned those targeting Turkish interests in Libya would be deemed “legitimate targets”.
“In a period when the political process under UN auspices is under way between our Libyan brothers, Haftar and his militia are continuing their hostile stance,” the ministry said.
“Targeting Turkish interests in Libya will have grave consequences, and these elements will be viewed as legitimate targets.”
Turkey is the main foreign backer of Libya’s internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, which has for years been fighting the LNA.
In October, the GNA and LNA signed a ceasefire deal and the United Nations has been pushing a political dialogue aimed at elections next year as a solution.
Haftar’s forces stopped the vessel off the eastern port town of Derna, said Ahmed al-Mosmari, an LNA spokesman.
The vessel’s crew includes nine Turkish sailors, seven from India, and one from Azerbaijan. Al-Mosmari said the ship entered a “no sail” zone and did not respond to calls from the naval forces.
The private security firm Dryad Global said in a statement the vessel was sailing from Egypt’s Port Said to Libya’s Mediterranean city of Misrata. It said satellite imagery on Tuesday showed the ship was held at Ras al-Hilal port, which is controlled by the LNA.
Heavily supplied
Turkey has sent military equipment, advisers and trainers to the GNA turning the tide of the conflict. The LNA is backed by Russia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, which have heavily supplied Haftar’s troops….
Infidel says
So Turkey is spelling out what would start a war w/ other NATO members? This should be fun to watch
Finally, it’ll force either the expulsion of Turkey from NATO, if that’s possible, or getting rid of NATO altogether and letting the EU form its own armed forces
robyt says
Not really, actually only the Government of National Accord (GNA) is internationally recognazied by both NATO and UN (actually it was NATO to establish it). Ony France of the NATO members is on the side of Haftar (LNA), along with Russia too.
Libya is where “EU armed forces” and NATO members collide very well one against each other …
Boycott Turkey says
His the one supporting Terrorist the Muslim brotherhood has just been called terrorist by the US and Turdogan is training them in camps in Libya also he supports isis his the biggest terrorist of all
Shaman says
Thank you for the information, Boycott Turkey. I am glad that the US called MB as what they are. As MB is a dangerous Islamic organization which poses a great danger to the world and Turkey being it’s biggest hold, it must be so obvious that a huge danger comes from Turkey.
I guess when Erdogan officially becomes the caliph there will be more horrible things to come. As you said in another post, if Aliev said Yerevan belongs to Azerbaijan, then they want to complete the Armenian Genocide.
As I support the right to exist of the Jewish state I also strongly support the right to exist of the Armenian Nation. Because Armenians suffered great jihadi attacks from Turks, particularly beginning from the late 19th century. As far as I know the Armenian Genocide started with the Hamidian Massacres under the Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II, Erdogan’s favorite role model and there was even a weekly movie about the Sultan called “Payitaht Abdulhamid” and he is a popular figure among the Turkish Ottomanists.
Boycott Turkey says
Shaman I heard that Turks love Turkish movies about there genocidal Rapist sultans massacres of Greeks Armenians Kurds are celebrated in Turkish movies Turdogan is a terrorist sultan in a suit I’m not surprised Abdul Hamid who was called the bloody sultan is Turdogans favorite but to be honest to me there all the same murderers from sulieman the murderer to Attaturk
Infidel says
Not just that, there is a TV serial called Ertugrul, which is about the father of the founder of the Ottoman empire. It was strongly resented in the Arab world, but a big hit in – aside from Turkey – Azerbaijan and Pakistan. Actually, that’s one of the reasons that the Arabs have soured on Pakistan: at one point, the Saudis even demanded that Pakistan ban that serial, but that never happened
And you’re right about the other point as well. Aside from Islam, Turkey celebrates the Turkic race (yeah, let us try celebrating the greatness of Caucasian/Aryans ?), and in particular, 16 Turkic empires all over Eurasia. On top of that, Turkey heads a group of countries called the Turkic Council (similar to the Arab League) that has Turkey and 4 of the -stans – Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. It’s actually at an advantage wrt Russia in terms of influence in what was once Russia’s ‘Near Abroad’
GreekEmpress says
Turkish movies glorify anything Turkish, no matter if it’s the total opposite of the truth.
For example—the Turkish version of Operation Cicero.
Carol says
Islamosavvy Kuffar should know that ErDOGan is the modern-day Caliph of Sunni Koranimals, by now.
gravenimage says
Turkey: Those targeting Turkish interests in Libya would be ‘legitimate targets’
…………….
In other words, don’t do anything to stop the spread of Turkey as the new Caliphate…
Star Dust says
THE MODERN DAY HITLER..
Infidel says
Dunno about that – Chairman Xi Jin Peng would give him tough competition