Khalifa Haftar

Turkey warned on Thursday against any attacks on its interests in Libya by Khalifa Haftar's forces after his Libyan National Army (LNA) threatened to respond to recent military setbacks by striking Turkish positions in the country.

"In the event Turkish interests in Libya are targeted, this will have very grave consequences," said Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy.

Turkey reiterated on May 21 that it will respond to 'putschists Khalifa Haftar's elements in Libya as a legitimate target if they attack Turkey's interests' in the country.

Hundreds of terrorists in Syria and northern Iraq have been neutralized as part of Turkey's cross-border counter-terrorism operations since the start of 2020, the Turkish defense minister said on May 20. 
"Our fight against terror in Syria and northern Iraq continues without pause- 1,411 terrorists have been neutralized since Jan. 1," Hulusi Akar said.

The Libyan army on May 20 destroyed a Russian-made air defense system used by forces loyal to warlord Khalifa Haftar in the city of Terhune. 

The spokesman for Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar's forces announced early on May 20 that as of midnight they would be withdrawing 2-3 kilometers (around 1.8 miles) from fronts south of Tripoli. 

Ahmed Al-Mismari said on social media they will be pulling back so people in the capital can celebrate the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Libya's army on May 18 retook Al-Watiya airbase occupied by warlord Khalifa Haftar's militias, a key airbase now back under government control after some six years under putschist forces.

The victory was announced by the media office of the government-led Burkan Al-Ghadab (Volcano of Rage) Operation, citing Osama al-Juwaili, the commander of Operation Peace Storm.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg have discussed on the phone the recent developments in Libya and Syria as the latter reiterated the alliance continued to support to the internationally-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), which is under attack by General Khalifa Haftar's forces.

Turkey's president and the head of NATO on May 14 discussed via telephone the novel coronavirus and steps to take in the post-pandemic period, according to a statement by Ankara's presidential Directorate of Communications.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Jens Stoltenberg also discussed the latest developments in Syria and Libya.

NATO is ready to support Libya's government led by Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of the military alliance said on May 14.

In an interview with Italian daily La Repubblica, Jens Stoltenberg noted that NATO has 30 partners, which on many issues have different positions, but added that Turkey remains an important ally.

Any attack on Turkish missions in Libya by Khalifa Haftar's forces can expect a military response, the country's ruling party spokesman warned the renegade warlord on May 12.