Khalifa Haftar

Turkey's top diplomat held a series of telephone calls on Feb. 8 with counterparts from three countries. 

Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu called his Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments, according to Turkish sources.

He separately spoke with Tunisia's Othman Jerandi in a call that focused on recent development in Libya.

Turkey on Feb. 5 welcomed the recent political developments in Libya as the North African country elected its interim president and prime minister to govern the country until Libyan elections in December.

Turkey on Jan. 22 welcomed a recent compromise between the warring sides in Libya on a mechanism to appoint a temporary executive authority in the country. 

The Turkish defense minister and his Libyan counterpart met in Istanbul on Jan.10 to discuss bilateral cooperation.

Turkey's Armed Forces have provided the Libyan Navy with five weeks of training in underwater warfare, Turkish defense officials said on Dec. 27. 

The move is part of Turkey's commitment to Libya based on agreements between the two countries, the officials said.

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has warned that the forces of Khalifa Haftar and their supporters based in eastern Libya would be viewed as "legitimate targets" if they attempted to attack Turkish forces in the region.

Speaking during a visit to Turkish troops in Tripoli on Dec. 26, Akar said Haftar had recently started making calls targeting Turkish forces in Libya.

Turkey top defense official on Dec. 26 met with the Chairman of Libya's High Council of State in a visit to Libya.

Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on Dec. 26 embarked on a visit to Libya.

Accompanied by Turkey's Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Güler and other military commanders,

Akar met Libya's Chairman of the High Council of State Khalid al-Mishri, Defense Minister Salahuddin al-Namroush and Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha.

A Turkish ship, transporting medicine to Libya's port of Misrata and detained last week by forces loyal to Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar, was released on Dec. 10. 

The vessel and its crew members set out for their final destination Misrata, local sources told Anadolu Agency.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry on Dec. 8 condemned the detaining of a Turkish ship transporting medicine to Libya's port of Misrata by forces loyal to Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar. 

Haftar's forces detained the vessel and its 17 crew members, including nine Turkish citizens, earlier in the day, claiming they did not comply with instructions. The vessel was also fined.