ANKARA, 09 December, 2020, (TON): Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) have accused Turkey of continuing to supply the GNA with arms and fighters. Its forces seized a Turkish container ship in the Mediterranean.

The Turkish foreign ministry on Tuesday condemned the seizure of a Turkish cargo ship in the Mediterranean by Libya's eastern-based forces.

Commander Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) said they intercepted the Jamaica-flagged ship as it headed to the port of Misrata in western Libya.

An LNA spokesman said the ship, named Mabrouka, entered a prohibited area and its crew did not respond to a call from the Libyan navy. It was then towed to Raas al-Hilal port.

He said the ship and its crew of 17 — including nine Turkish citizens, seven from India, and one from Azerbaijan — were under investigation for violating maritime regulations and laws.

Turkey and Qatar back the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, which Haftar opposes. Haftar's forces are principally backed by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

The latest incident will likely escalate tensions after weeks of relative calm.

Haftar’s forces had made inroads into the capital’s suburbs and seemed poised to enter Tripoli before Turkey escalated its intervention at the start of the year, including sending in thousands of Syrian militiamen.