The troops of the self-proclaimed National Libyan Army, General Khalifa Haftar, stated Sunday they had captured a ship with a Turkish crew in the Mediterranean Sea, Reuters reported.

A National Libyan Army forces naval combat vessel stopped the ship in Libyan territorial waters off the eastern city of Derna and towed it to Ras El Hilal port “for inspection and to verify its cargo”, spokesman Ahmed Mismari told Reuters. He gave no further details.

A few hours before the detention of the ship, the Turkish parliament ratified the agreement on security and military cooperation with the government of national unity of Libya. The military pact allows Turkey to send military instructors and advisers to Libya. Ankara also has permission to conduct joint military drills and can send weapons and military equipment to Libya.