Turkey today warned the forces of retired Major General Khalifa Haftar that it will become "legitimate targets" if it continues to attack Ankara's missions and interests in Libya.
This warning comes after Haftar forces targeted last Thursday with Grad rockets surrounding the residence of Turkish and Italian ambassadors in the Zawiyah Dahmani area in Tripoli, killing two members of the security forces charged with protecting diplomatic headquarters.
"We stress that if our missions and interests in Libya are targeted, Haftar's forces will become legitimate targets," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"Attacks on diplomatic missions, including our embassy in Tripoli, the Mitiga airport, civil aircraft in the process of takeoff and other civilian infrastructure, and attacks that lead to the killing or injury of civilians, constitute a war crime," she added.
The ministry renewed its support for the government of national reconciliation, which is internationally recognized, considering that there is a "collective responsibility" on the international community to stop what it described as the "coup" Haftar.
It is noteworthy that the Turkish government intervened in recent months in Libya in support of the government of national reconciliation, after Haftar forces launched a military offensive last year to control the capital, Tripoli.
Haftar controls vast areas of eastern Libya and is supported by countries that have strained relations in Ankara, such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
After signing a military cooperation agreement last year between the Turkish government and the National Accord government, Ankara sent soldiers to support the latter in its campaign to defend Tripoli.