Italian sources: Turkish warplanes hover over Libyan cities

Italian media reported that Turkish warplanes flew over the regions of Sirte and Al-Jufrah, after Haftar's forces detained a Turkish cargo ship that entered eastern Libyan waters.

9 December, 2020 10:42

NEWS DESK

The website of the "Rai" television network, said that Turkish President Erdogan threatened a severe retaliation after the forces of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar took control of a Turkish-owned cargo ship flying the Jamaican flag after entering a "military operations area" off the coast of Ras Al Hilal.

The website reported that there had been news in the past hours, "of a Turkish military flight in the Sirte and Al-Jufrah area, along the armistice line between the two armies, which have been facing each other for months."

The website added that Ankara threatens with "drastic consequences" if the Turkish vessel that Haftar's forces has detained is not released immediately and its 17 crew members are released.

Turkey is one of the main supporters of the Government of National Accord, with which it has signed two agreements since November 2019, one to demarcate the maritime borders, and the other for military cooperation between Ankara and Tripoli.

J.O