Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar visited the Libyan capital, Tripoli, to inspect Turkish troops in the North African country and meet with Libyan military officials.
Akar arrived at the Abu Sitta Naval Base in Tripoli, accompanied by Turkish Chief of Staff Yasar Guler.
According to the Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah, the visit took place on the occasion of the reaction of the head of the Libyan National Army (LNA) regarding the extension of the stay of Turkish forces in Libya. Haftar called on his army to “drive out” Turkish forces.
Haftar told his forces to prepare to fight Turkey, speaking at Libya’s independence celebrations in Benghazi. The general said peace in the war-torn country would not be possible “as long as Turkish boots soil our territory”.
“The enemy had two choices, to leave peacefully or to be forced,” Haftar said. “Turkey chose war over peace.”
