Libya’s UN-recognized unity government said Thursday it may officially seek Turkish military support in the face of a bid by the country’s eastern based strongman to seize Tripoli.

Khalifa Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army launched an offensive in April to take the capital from the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), making rapid gains before becoming stalled on the edge of the capital.

Haftar has “provided foreign forces with military bases in Libya,” GNA Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha told journalists in Tunis on Thursday. “If this position continues we have the right to defend Tripoli and we will officially ask the Turkish government for its military support.”

Haftar has received support from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Russia, while Turkey has backed the GNA.

The Turkish parliament on Saturday ratified a security and military cooperation deal with the GNA, which Turkish officials say would allow Ankara to send military and security personnel to Libya for training purposes.

Source: AFP