The Libyan National Army (LNA) destroyed a Turkish plane in Tripoli Mitiga International Airport while taking off on Sunday, according to the Military Information Division of the General Command of the LNA.
The Military Information Division said the plane was meant to target LNA sites; hence, Mitiga Airport suspended its flights.
Mitiga sits on a former military base on the city’s outskirts and was opened to civilian air traffic after Tripoli International Airport has been severely damaged in 2014 fighting.
The tensions between the LNA and Turkey began early on, as Ankara has sent several weapons shipments to the armed forces loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA) in the past several months, and has backed the GNA since the beginning of the crisis in the western region.
Meanwhile, LNA spokesperson Ahmed al-Mismari announced the suspension of flights between Libya and Turkey, which came as a result of its interference in the Libyan affairs.
Mismari claimed that Turkish soldiers are fighting the LNA alongside the GNA in Tripoli, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently admitted his participation in the ongoing by sending arms to the GNA, something that the Turkish government had repeatedly denied.
