An inflated sense of its influence and overambitious plans that didn’t match the reality on the ground has left Turkey increasingly isolated in the Arab world. As Ankara closes one consulate after another in the Middle East and North Africa for security reasons, Turkish citizens in the region have also become persona non grata on account of the government’s policies.

The latest development in this respect is in Libya, where Ankara’s support for Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteeq, who is backed by the Muslim Brotherhood but whose election by parliament a month ago was annulled recently by Libya’s Supreme Court, is also beginning to backfire.

Turkey was forced recently to pull out its diplomatic staff from Benghazi and urge its nationals to leave the region after heavily armed groups allied with retired Gen. Khalifa Belqasim Hifter declared war on Islamist militants, including supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Accusing Turkey along with Qatar of supporting terrorism, Hifter’s spokesman Mohamed el-Hejazi warned all Turks June 22 to leave eastern Libya immediately or face the consequences. "All citizens of Turkey and Qatar should leave Libya within 48 hours. The countdown started last night,” he said.