Turkey has reaffirmed that Khalifa Haftar's elements will be legitimate target for its armed forces if they attack any of its interests in Libya.

Turkish Foreign Ministry reiterated Thursday in a statement by the spokesman, Hami Aksoy, that Ankara reiterates once again that in case of targeting Turkish interests in Libya, this will have very heavy consequences and the putschist Haftar elements will be considered as a legitimate target.

Aksoy’s statement came after Haftar’s forces said they would target Turkish forces and interests in all Libyan cities.

“It is noteworthy that the statement, which is referred by a foreign media outlet and said illegitimate militias loyal to Haftar will target Turkish interests with their air elements, is made after new warplanes are deployed in Libya’s east with foreign support.” Aksoy added.

The spokesman for Turkey's Foreign Ministry said Haftar's statement mirrored the defeat of his forces on the ground, saying it was “the clearest sign” that Haftar and his supporters were trying to escalate the conflict in Libya.

Meanwhile, Haftar's Air Force Chief Saqr Al-Jaroushi said last night that their warplanes will carry out the largest aerial campaign in Libyan history against Turkish positions and interests in all Libyan cities, vowing painful hours ahead to "Erdogan and his loyalists" and saying that if they don't surrender, "they will be annihilated".