ANKARA, Turkey: A Turkish official says six Turkish nationals who were held by a Libyan force have been released.
A Foreign Ministry official says the six crewmembers of a ship were released on Monday, a day after Turkey vowed it would consider Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s forces as “legitimate targets” if the Turkish nationals remained in detention.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army had earlier called Turkish assets in Libya “legitimate targets,” accusing Turkey of helping rival militias allied with the UN-supported government.
The LNA controls much of eastern and southern Libya. In April it launched an offensive against Tripoli, where a weak, UN-aligned government is based.
Turkey says 6 citizens held in Libya have been freed
Updated 01 July 2019
Turkey says 6 citizens held in Libya have been freed
- Turkey said they would consider LNA forces as “legitimate targets” if they don’t release the crewmembers
- LNA earlier called Turkish assets in Libya as “legitimate targets”
