Rebel leader General Khalifa Haftar has threatened to attack Turkish troops stationed in Libya.

Turkey has deployed troops in Libya to support the UN-recognized government. In contrast, countries such as France, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt support Khalifa Haftar.

Referring to Turkey as a colonial enemy, General Haftar said that Turkish troops should leave Libya peacefully, otherwise they would be forcibly expelled.

Recently, the Turkish parliament approved a proposal to increase the number of troops in Libya. According to the proposal, Turkey will keep troops in Libya for another 18 months.

Haftar said peace and security would not return to the beloved homeland until Turkish troops left Libya. Earlier this year, Haftar called on all Libyan men and women to take up arms against Turkish troops.

The country was in turmoil in 2011 after the US-led NATO military alliance assassinated former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi during the so-called Arab Spring.

Clashes then broke out between the internationally recognized government and rebels in Tripoli-based Libya, which eventually escalated into a civil war.