The Turkish Foreign Ministry said that six Turkish citizens were arrested in Libya by the so-called Khalifa Hafter militias and warned them to release them immediately. Otherwise, they would consider any element of Hafter as a legitimate target.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry described the arrest of the six citizens as "banditry" and "piracy".
In the same context, Turkish Defense Minister Khulosi Akkar announced that his country will respond to any attack by the forces of the retired Libyan brigade Khalifa Hafter against its interests after he ordered his forces to target Turkish ships and interests in Libya.
Akar told the Turkish Anatolia news agency that there would be a very high price for any hostile position or attack against the interests of his country and Ankara would respond "in the most effective and powerful way." "It should be known that Turkey has taken all kinds of measures to deal with any threat or hostile action against it," he said.
Akar explained that Turkey's efforts in Libya are "to contribute to the establishment of peace and stability in the region."
Campaign in Ijdabia
Earlier in the day, the Security Directorate in the eastern city of Ijdabia, located in the areas of influence Hafter, arrested two Turkish citizens working in the city and the closure of all shops and restaurants in the Turkish city.
The Directorate justified the arrest of the two Turks on Monday as the implementation of orders Hfter responded to what is done by "the State of Turkey in support of the terrorist militias in Libya," she said.
The security department of Ijdabia called what they described as "honorable citizens" in the city to inform security agencies and what they described as secret security services "to any Turkish person or a Turkish company working in the city."
The security department of Ijdabia demanded that its security chiefs in south-eastern Libya and the Crescent oil area lock shops, workshops and restaurants where Turkish citizens work and restrict the Turkish companies working in these areas and remove banners with Turkish slogans.
For their part, eyewitnesses reported the closure of Turkish restaurants in Benghazi and White and Tobruk after digging the leader of the so-called cut off any relations with Turkey and targeting its interests in Libya.
Meanwhile, Benina International Airport, through its official website on Sunday, announced the departure of two flights to Istanbul without passengers. Turkish activities in Libya are very few at present and are limited to restaurants that are mostly Libyan.
Charging and hostility
The developments come two days after a spokesman for the forces of Haftar, Major General Ahmad al-Musmari, Turkey to provide support to the government of reconciliation with all capabilities, considering that all the Turkish ships and aircraft from now are hostile targets.
He revealed that the General Command decided to stop all Libyan flights to Turkey and all companies to start implementation, and comes after the escalation after the loss of troops and the strategic city of Grain and the task and control of the forces of the Government of Reconciliation.