ANKARA, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Turkish foreign ministry warned on Sunday that it would consider the forces of Libyan General Khalifa Haftar as "legitimate targets" if their attacks on Turkey's interests and diplomatic missions in Libya persists.
The "illegitimate" militia forces led by Haftar in Libya have recently increased their "indiscriminate" attacks, particularly in Tripoli, said the ministry in a written statement, noting that on Saturday the elements affiliated with Haftar launched more than 100 missiles along with heavy artillery fire on "civilian neighborhoods" in the city center of Tripoli.
"These attacks targeting diplomatic missions including our Embassy in Tripoli, Mitiga International Airport, civilian aircrafts prepared for departure and other civilian infrastructure, which resulted in civilian casualties and injuries, constitute war crimes," said the ministry.
"In this context, we reemphasize that we will consider Haftar's elements as legitimate targets in case they target our diplomatic missions and interests in Libya," read the statement.
Libya has seen an escalation of turmoil that erupted after a NATO-backed uprising killed the former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Libya is now divided between the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in the capital Tripoli and Haftar's forces in the east and the south.
Turkey backs the GNA rule with military support given to the forces of Fayez al-Serraj, head of the Tripoli-based administration.
