Air flights between Libya and Turkey have been halted, according to spokesperson for the Libyan National Army (LNA) Ahmed al-Mismari.
Mismari said in a Friday press conference that any Turkish citizen spotted inside the Libyan territories will be arrested immediately.
He added that these procedures come as a result of the “Turkish interference” in the Libyan affairs, as Ankara has been allegedly providing terrorists and militia with weapons during the past period, which led to the violence acts in Tripoli.
He also accused Turkey of being involved in the attacks that hit Gharyan city during the past days, leading to the murder of nearly 43 in the ranks of the LNA.
He added that the LNA foiled another attack against Tripoli’s international airport on Friday.
Mismari concluded the conference affirming that the LNA will continue its military operation against “terrorism” until archiving its goals in Tripoli.
Last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan admitted that Turkey has sent shipments of weapons to Libya to support the Government of the National Accord (GNA) in its fighting with the LNA.
In an interview with journalists in Ankara, he said Turkey has helped the GNA as the western-based government did not have enough weapons and defence systems, and could not get military support from another country.
Turkey has sent several shipments of weapons to Libya in the past few months, violating the U.N. resolution banning the sale and transfer of arms to Libya.
The most recent shipment was sent on May 18 amid the escalating clashes between the GNA and the LNA.
A shipment of 40 Turkish armored vehicles and other arms reached Tripoli Port, coming from Samsun Port in Turkey.
Claims surfaced about the coalition forces loyal to the GNA received the shipment, carrying dozens of Turkish-made BMC Kirpi armored vehicles.
The LNA openly condemned turkey every time a shipment arrived, but the GNA’s reaction has been silent or lenient.
Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu visited Tripoli in December after a Turkish weapon shipment arrived in Libya, announcing that Ankara was investigating how weapons and ammunition travelled from Turkey to Libya.
