TRIPOLI, 11 December, 2020, (TON): The eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) on Thursday announced the release of a foreign commercial ship intercepted a few days ago in eastern Libya.

Eastern Libyan commander Haftar’s LNA intercepted a Turkish ship named as Mabrooka and towed it to the port of Ras al-Hilal, east of Benghazi on Monday, prompting Turkish warnings of retaliation and "grave consequences."

LNA's spokesperson Ahmad al-Mismari said in a statement "The General Command of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces releases the ship Mabruka, which carries the flag of Jamaica, after searching it and completing the investigation with its crew."

The ship was fined for sailing in Libyan territorial waters without a Libyan permission or authorization, and also for entering a restricted zone, he said.

The crew of the ship, which was heading to the western Libya, consisted of nine Turks, seven Indians and an Azerbaijani, al-Mismari said.

Turkey earlier this week condemned the interception of the ship, saying it must be allowed to resume its journey to western Libya and warning of possible reprisals.

Turkey has been the main international backer of the UN-recognised, Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), which Haftar is trying to topple by force.

The LNA launched an assault on Tripoli in April 2019 and today controls large swaths of Libya’s east and south. Haftar claimed military rule over eastern parts of the country in April 2020. The LNA’s backers include Egypt, France, UAE, and Russia.

Whereas, GNA’s armed forces receives significant military aid from Turkey, Italy, and Qatar.

The capture of the ship came weeks after the country's warring factions signed a ceasefire agreement to allow negotiations to end the conflict.

Libya has suffered years of escalating violence and political division between LNA and the UN-backed Government of National Accord in the country's west.