Turkish Foreign Ministry denied on July 1 claims by some media outlets that a number of Turkish military personnel were arrested in Libya by the rebel Halifa Haftar forces.
A ranking Turkish Foreign Ministry source who asked not to be named told YetkinReport the following: “We categorically deny the claims. This is fabricated news. We have 6 Turkish civilian seamen taken under custody in Libya and we ask for their immediate release.”
In an earlier statement Turkish Foreign Ministry has said that 6 Turkish citizens working in a ship were arrested over the weekend and asked for their release at once. Turkish Deputy President Fuat Oktay has said in a separate statement that if Turkish citizens will not be set free at once those who are responsible for the act would be considered as “legitimate target” by Turkey and face “heavy consequences”.
