Leader of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar vowed on Wednesday to protect Libya's fortunes from the "barbaric aggression" of Turkey. Haftar, amid leaked reports about Turkish intentions to attack Al-Jufra, said the LNA will continue to build its troops for its anti-terrorism campaign.
Turkey seeks to control Libya's fortunes to solve its economic crisis, said Haftar.
"Turkey is practising barbaric aggression against Libya. It established rooms of operations and sends its officers, mercenaries and weapons to Libya to fight the LNA," Haftar was quoted by Sky News Arabia as saying.
"Our nation is under imminent threat to its present and future by the hateful Turkish colonialism," he added.
Haftar vowed to stop the transfer of further weapons and mercenaries to Libya, stressing his support to the international community's demands concerning working on a political settlement to the Libyan conflict.
The Government of National Accord (GNA), which is based in Tripoli, is backed by Turkish troops and thousands of Syrian mercenaries in its war against the eastern-based LNA and its leader Haftar.
During the past week, local and foreign media outlets reported that Turkey is preparing to attack Al-Jufra.
Sources told Al-Arabiya on Monday that Turkish intelligence officials were wounded following the LNA's air strikes on Al-Watiya air base on Sunday, which was recently captured by the GNA and its Turkish backers. The wounded were transferred to hospitals in Tripoli and Turkey.
Brigadier-General Khaled Al-Mahgoub, an LNA leading commander, told Al-Arabiya that similar strikes on Al-Watiya will soon take place.
Al-Mahgoub also said that Turkish radars, military equipment and air defence systems were destroyed during the air strikes.
Turkey, according to sources who spoke to Reuters in June, is negotiating the establishment of two bases -- including one at Watiya -- with the GNA. Al-Watiya is western Libya's most significant air base.
