"The attack that claimed the lives of dozens of innocent people... is a crime against humanity," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"An international investigation must be launched immediately to find who is responsible," it added.

The strike on the detention facility housing 120 migrants in a Tripoli suburb has been blamed on Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar, who controls much of eastern and southern Libya.

Haftar has led a three-month offensive to seize the Libyan capital.

Turkey, which backs the internationally recognised national unity government in Tripoli, has become a target for Haftar who last week ordered his forces to retaliate against Turkish interests in the country after he lost a key town.

Six Turkish sailors were briefly held this week but released after Ankara vowed to retaliate.

Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising ended with dictator Moamer Kadhafi's death in 2011, triggering a power struggle between multiple militias.