Forces loyal to Libyan General Khalifa Haftar said that they were ready to fight Turkish troops if they intervened in the conflict on behalf of the UN-recognised government in Tripoli.

Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj on Thursday accepted an offer of military assistance from Ankara to defeat Haftar's forces fighting to seize Tripoli.

"We warn any country, Turkey or others, against attempts to link any bridge to Turkish forces on Libyan soil. Any target suspected of being a supporter or carrier of terrorists or Turkish groups will be destroyed," said Brigadier General Ahmed al-Mesmari, a spokesman for the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army, according to Africanews.

Haftar forces launched an offensive against the Libyan capital in April. The fight has largely turned into a stalemate, with neither side able to make significant gains.

According to experts, “Since Haftar's offensive in April, a "new phase of instability, combined with the interests of several states and non-state actors in the outcome, amplified the existing proxy conflict that took shape post-2011.”

Two deals signed by Turkey and the internationally recognized government in Libya on maritime boundaries and military cooperation have angered many countries including Greece, Cyprus, Egypt and Israel.

The military cooperation agreement between Ankara and Tripoli is aimed for increased Turkish military presence in Libya despite the UN’s arms embargo.

RELATED NEWS: