Haftar vows to confront Italian ships in Libyan waters

Powerful Libyan General Khalifah Haftar has ordered naval bases to confront any vessel entering the North African country's territorial waters without military permission.

A statement released by Haftar, the head of the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA), said that the command was directed to eastern bases in Benghazi as well as the capital Tripoli.

The warning by Libya's eastern commander comes after the Italian parliament authorized a naval mission to help Libya's coast guard curb refugee flows and reduce the number of people arriving on Italy's coasts.

Italy has reportedly begun the mission by sending a logistics ship and patrol boat as well as mechanics to maintain equipment.

Rome had initially hoped to send six ships into Libyan territorial waters, but the plans had to be scaled back following protests from Tripoli.

Italy's Defense Minister Pinotti earlier said that the vessels would only provide technical support and would not infringe on the North African country's sovereignty.

Italy maintains that it sent the mission upon request by the "UN-backed government" in Tripoli.

Libya now has two governments, one based in the capital, Tripoli, and the other based in the far east city of Tobruk. Haftar does not recognize the authority of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), instead backing an alternate government based in the country's east. 

SS