Erdoğan, Putin hold phone call to discuss Libya and bilateral ties

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan discusses the crisis in Libya and bilateral relations in a phone call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

According to reports, Erdoğan expressed condolences for 14 military officers who were killed in a fire on a nuclear-powered submersible in the Barents Sea on Monday.

The two leaders also discussed ongoing regional developments.

The militia loyal to Haftar took a hostile step against Turkey last week by abducting six Turkish nationals. Having recognized the Government of National Accord, Ankara said it sees the action as banditry, warning that Haftar's forces will become legitimate military targets if they do not release the Turkish citizens. Following the announcement, the captives were freed.

In April, Haftar's forces from eastern Libya and loyal to a rival, east-based government, launched the offensive which has been widely criticized by the U.N. and aid agencies. Approximately 1,000 people have been killed so far in the violence, mainly combatants but also civilians, and thousands have been displaced.

Haftar's campaign has also raised fears of another bout of violence after the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Since then, the country has sunk into chaos, with rival administrations in the east and the west, and an array of forces and militias allied with both sides.