The Turkish Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the detention of a Turkish merchant ship by Khalifa Haftar's militias, stressing that targeting Turkish interests in Libya will have serious consequences.

The ministry said in a statement, Tuesday, that the so-called Libyan National Army of the putschist general Khalifa Haftar had seized the Jamaican flagship "Mabrouka" operated by a Turkish company off the coast of "Marsa Sousse."

It indicated that Haftar's forces have arrested the crew and imposed a fine on the ship. "We strongly condemn such an act. Steps must be taken to ensure that the ship resumes its planned voyage." the statement read.

The ministry said that Haftar and his militias are continuing their hostile stance, while the political process is moving forward under the auspices of the United Nations, warning that Haftar's militias will be legitimate targets for the Turkish forces.