Libya's Grand Mufti, Sheikh Al-Sadiq Al-Gharyani, on Wednesday, criticized those who equate the Turkish presence in Libya with that of the illegitimate groups.

"The Turkish cooperation developed within the framework of an agreement signed with the legitimate government could not be equated with the Russian mercenaries and the Janjaweed who came to support the aggressors," the Mufti said.

"No one ( foreign power) stood against the aggression on Tripoli except for Turkey. It sacrificed its men and faced international pressure to defend the civilians in Tripoli when criminal Haftar's militias were bombing the safe families in their homes," he added.

Under a military accord signed with Turkey in late 2019, the previous Tripoli-based administration managed to repel a 2019-20 offensive by warlord Khalifa Haftar, who was backed by several foreign powers, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, France, and Russia, not to mention the mercenaries from Africa, Syria, Iran, and Afghanistan.

"Every sane person should be reminded of what happened to us during April 2019 and until the end of 2020. If it had not been for the Turkish support, the entire city of Tarhouna could have become a mass grave".

Sheikh Al-Gharyani denounced the silence of the Government of National Unity about the statements directed against Turkey, in reference to Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush's remarks in this regard, saying that these ministries would not have been if it was not for the Turkish ally.