Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Legislation
  • War On Terror
  • EU Affairs
  • Elections
  • News Analysis

Haftar forces legitimate targets if they attack Turkish troops in Libya, Defense Minister Akar says

by DAILY SABAH

ISTANBUL Dec 27, 2020 - 12:00 pm GMT+3
Turkish Minister of Defence Hulusi Akar (R) and his Libyan counterpart Salahaddin Namroush (L) attend a graduation ceremony for new batches of students from the Military College in the Libyan capital Tripoli, Libya, Dec. 26, 2020. (AFP Photo)
Turkish Minister of Defence Hulusi Akar (R) and his Libyan counterpart Salahaddin Namroush (L) attend a graduation ceremony for new batches of students from the Military College in the Libyan capital Tripoli, Libya, Dec. 26, 2020. (AFP Photo)
by DAILY SABAH Dec 27, 2020 12:00 pm
RECOMMENDED
A voter casts her ballot for presidential and parliamentary elections at a polling station in a government school in Istanbul, Türkiye, May 14, 2023. (AFP Photo)

Millions vote in Türkiye's presidential, parliamentary elections

elections

Forces loyal to Libya's Putschist Gen. Khalifa Haftar will be seen as legitimate targets if they attempt to attack Turkish troops in Libya, Turkey's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Sunday.

"If they take such a step, they will be unable to find any place to flee to. Everyone should come to their senses," he warned while referring to Haftar as a war criminal and murderer.

During his visit to Turkish troops in the war-torn country, Akar underlined the nearly 500-year historical and cultural ties between Turkey and Libya, saying Ankara cooperated with the Tripoli-based legitimate Government of National Accord (GNA) at a time when other global actors hesitated.

Noting that the U.N.-recognized GNA is the only legitimate government in the country, Akar said, "The putschist Haftar group and those who support him are the real problems in Libya."

Akar said the 21 mass graves found in the city of Tarhuna again revealed Haftar's massacres. "Unfortunately, the world continues its silent ... But, we believe that the GNA will not let this crime against humanity go."

He urged the international courts to continue their investigations into Haftar's war crimes and hold him accountable for what he did.

Turkish support for the GNA helped stave off the April 2019 offensive by Haftar, who is mainly backed by Russia, France, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Akar made a surprise trip to Libya on Saturday and met with senior Libyan officials during which the two sides underlined their bilateral cooperation, two days after Haftar urged his fighters to drive out Turkish forces from the oil-rich country.

Accompanied by Turkey's Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Güler and other military commanders, Akar met with Libya's Chairperson of the High Council of State Khalid Mishri, Defense Minister Salahuddin Namroush and Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha.

In his meeting with Bashagha, Akar said: "You have accomplished great things, I hope you bring all of these to fruition and our Libyan brothers continue to live in peace and security."

For his part, Bashagha said he was pleased to host Akar and the Turkish military commanders, adding, "You are our brothers."

The Turkish and Libyan officials agreed during the talks to "pursue their coordination in a bid to repel any hostile" action by Haftar that could destabilize Libya, a statement by Tripoli said.

Later Saturday, Akar attended a graduation ceremony in Tripoli for military cadets who were trained in Turkey as part of its cooperation with the GNA.

Turkey has backed the Tripoli-based, U.N.-recognized, legitimate GNA, sending military advisers, materials and mercenaries to quell an offensive last year by the illegitimate forces led by eastern-based Haftar. In November 2019, Turkey and Libya also signed pacts on security cooperation and maritime boundaries.

As part of Libya's 2019 deal with Turkey on security cooperation, the Turkish military continues to train, cooperate with and provide consulting services to Libya. Ankara also has a large military base in the Al-Watiya region on Libya's border with Tunisia.

Akar's visit to Tripoli came after the Turkish Parliament last week adopted a motion extending the deployment of forces in Libya by 18 months.

Wracked by violence since 2011, the North African country has become a battleground for tribal militias, extremists and mercenaries while acting as a major gateway for desperate migrants bound for Europe. Two rival camps now vie for power, with an eastern-based administration backed by Haftar, pitted against the Tripoli-based GNA. In October the two sides struck a cease-fire agreement, which has been generally respected, setting the stage for elections at the end of next year.

RECOMMENDED
A voter casts her ballot for presidential and parliamentary elections at a polling station in a government school in Istanbul, Türkiye, May 14, 2023. (AFP Photo)

Millions vote in Türkiye's presidential, parliamentary elections

elections
  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Dec 27, 2020 3:00 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    turkey-libya relations libyan civil war hulusİ akar government of national accord khalifa haftar
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    An amateur photographer Vincent Cornelissen captures a bean goose flying upside down. (Photo from Instagram @b0unce1971)

    It is showing off: Photographer captures goose flying upside down

    ANIMALS-ARCHIVES
    Parts of the newly completed last section of the Northern Marmara Motorway, Istanbul, Turkey, May 19, 2021. (DHA Photo)

    Turkey raises speed limits on highways starting from July

    SPEED-LIMIT

    Türkiye registers better-than-expected current account gap

    current-account-balance

    Istanbul's consulate chronicles: Sudhi Choudhary, Consul General of India

    SUDHI-CHOUDHARY
    No Image
    In photos: Armenians set homes on fire, destroy infrastructure as they leave occupied lands
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021