LNA chief: Libya conflict may become 'fierce war'

The commander of Libya's east-based government said, "men and women" would bear arms "to defend our land" after Turkey authorised the deployment of troops to support the UN-backed government in Tripoli, in the country's west.

On Friday, Khalifa Hifter said that his government, which is seeking to capture the capital Tripoli, would "declare confrontation" with Turkish troops.

Earlier in the week, Turkish lawmakers voted at an emergency session in favour of a one-year mandate allowing the government to dispatch the troops amid concerns that the country's forces could aggravate the conflict in Libya and destabilise the region.

Ankara has said the deployment is vital for Turkey to safeguard its interests in Libya and in the eastern Mediterranean, where it finds itself increasingly isolated as Greece, Cyprus, Egypt and Israel have established exclusive economic zones paving the way for oil and gas exploration.

Read: Benghazi FM condemns Turkey vote on Libya troops

The Tripoli-based government of Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj has faced an offensive by the rival regime in the east and forces loyal to commander General Khalifa Hifter. 

The fighting has threatened to plunge Libya into violent chaos rivalling the 2011 conflict that ousted and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

Read: Turkey's main opposition objects to sending troops to Libya

In the chaos that followed, the country was divided, with a weak UN-supported administration in Tripoli overseeing the country's west and a rival government in the east, aligned with the Libyan National Army led by General Khalifa Hifter. Each side is supported by an array of militias and foreign governments.

The Libyan National Army and the eastern government enjoy the support of France, Russia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and other key Arab countries while the Tripoli-based government is backed by Italy, Turkey and Qatar.

Read: Migrant in Libya relives brutal detention through sketches

Read: Libya to mobilize civilians after news of Turkish deployment