<p>Libya's UN-recognised government Sunday condemned overnight air raids against a recaptured strategic air base in the west of the country, alleging they were carried out by a "foreign air force".</p>.<p>Forces loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA) seized back the Al-Watiya airbase, 140 kilometres (90 miles) southwest of Tripoli, from troops aligned with eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar in May.</p>.<p>Haftar's forces allege Turkey -- a key GNA backer -- has subsequently made use of the base to help GNA loyalists to repel an offensive the strongman launched against Tripoli in April last year.</p>.<p>"The raids last night against Al-Watiya base were carried out by a... foreign air force in support of the war criminal in a miserable and desperate attempt to achieve a morale-boosting victory" for Haftar's forces, GNA deputy defence minister Salah Namrush said in a statement.</p>.<p>A "response, in the right place and at the right time" will serve as a future deterrent for such acts, Namrush added, without specifying which foreign air force was suspected to be behind the raid.</p>.<p>Citing military sources, pro-Haftar media had earlier said the raids were carried out by "unknown planes" that targeted a Turkish aerial defence system installed at Al-Watiya.</p>.<p>These sources were also quoted as saying Turkish soldiers deployed at the base had suffered casualties.</p>.<p>A senior Turkish official confirmed material damage at the base but denied there were any human losses.</p>.<p>"This attack illustrates the willingness of putschist Haftar and foreign powers to maintain a state of instability," he said, declining to be named.</p>.<p>Turkey's state news agency Anadolu, quoting an unnamed GNA military official, said earlier that the raid was carried out by "unidentified planes" and had caused no casualties.</p>.<p>"Materials recently deployed to reinforce anti-aerial capacities were damaged," Anadolu said.</p>.<p>It was not possible to independently verify the various claims.</p>.<p>Plunged into chaos by the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed its longtime leader Moamer Kadhafi, oil-rich Libya has two rival administrations.</p>.<p>Haftar's forces are backed by Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates.</p>.<p>His fighters withdrew from the southern outskirts of Tripoli and the entire west of the country in June after a string of battlefield defeats to the Turkish-backed GNA.</p>
<p>Libya's UN-recognised government Sunday condemned overnight air raids against a recaptured strategic air base in the west of the country, alleging they were carried out by a "foreign air force".</p>.<p>Forces loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA) seized back the Al-Watiya airbase, 140 kilometres (90 miles) southwest of Tripoli, from troops aligned with eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar in May.</p>.<p>Haftar's forces allege Turkey -- a key GNA backer -- has subsequently made use of the base to help GNA loyalists to repel an offensive the strongman launched against Tripoli in April last year.</p>.<p>"The raids last night against Al-Watiya base were carried out by a... foreign air force in support of the war criminal in a miserable and desperate attempt to achieve a morale-boosting victory" for Haftar's forces, GNA deputy defence minister Salah Namrush said in a statement.</p>.<p>A "response, in the right place and at the right time" will serve as a future deterrent for such acts, Namrush added, without specifying which foreign air force was suspected to be behind the raid.</p>.<p>Citing military sources, pro-Haftar media had earlier said the raids were carried out by "unknown planes" that targeted a Turkish aerial defence system installed at Al-Watiya.</p>.<p>These sources were also quoted as saying Turkish soldiers deployed at the base had suffered casualties.</p>.<p>A senior Turkish official confirmed material damage at the base but denied there were any human losses.</p>.<p>"This attack illustrates the willingness of putschist Haftar and foreign powers to maintain a state of instability," he said, declining to be named.</p>.<p>Turkey's state news agency Anadolu, quoting an unnamed GNA military official, said earlier that the raid was carried out by "unidentified planes" and had caused no casualties.</p>.<p>"Materials recently deployed to reinforce anti-aerial capacities were damaged," Anadolu said.</p>.<p>It was not possible to independently verify the various claims.</p>.<p>Plunged into chaos by the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed its longtime leader Moamer Kadhafi, oil-rich Libya has two rival administrations.</p>.<p>Haftar's forces are backed by Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates.</p>.<p>His fighters withdrew from the southern outskirts of Tripoli and the entire west of the country in June after a string of battlefield defeats to the Turkish-backed GNA.</p>