Egypt’s Sisi gets parliamentary approval for possible intervention in Libya

CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s parliament gave President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi the green light for possible military intervention in Libya by approving the deployment of the armed forces abroad to fight “terrorist groups” and “militias” .

A sharp military escalation in Libya, where fighters led by Eastern Commander Khalifa Haftar have been fighting internationally recognized government forces, could risk igniting a direct conflict between foreign powers that have dumped weapons and fighters in violation of an embargo. of weapons.

Sisi warned last week that Egypt would not remain idle if there was a national security threat in Egypt and its western neighbor, Libya.

Egypt, along with the United Arab Emirates and Russia, backs Haftar, who abandoned an offensive in the capital last month after Turkey stepped up support for Tripoli.

Egypt has launched airstrikes against suspected militants in Libya since the ouster of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 plunged the oil producer into chaos.

He has also supported Haftar, a former Gaddafi general, since 2014 when he mustered a force in eastern Libya, according to UN reports. But sending ground combat troops would be a huge escalation.

The eastern Libyan parliament allied with Haftar called on Cairo this month to intervene militarily to counter Turkey, and its president welcomed Egypt’s move on Monday, a spokesman said.

The Egyptian parliament said in the vote supported by all current parliamentarians that the troops would defend national security on the “strategic western front against the work of armed criminal militias and foreign terrorist elements.”

He did not give details, a time frame, or Libya’s name directly. He also did not mention Turkey.

Egyptian state television then displayed banners on the screen that read: “Egypt and Libya, one people, one destiny.”

The last time Egypt sent ground troops abroad for combat was in 1991 in Kuwait as part of a United States-led coalition to expel Iraqi troops.

SISI TALKS TO THE TRICK

Shortly before the vote, Sisi and the President of the United States, Donald Trump, spoke on the phone.

“The two leaders affirmed the need for an immediate reduction in Libya, including through a ceasefire and progress in economic and political negotiations,” the White House said in a statement.

Trump also told French President Emmanuel Macron by phone that the conflict “has been exacerbated by the presence of foreign forces and weapons,” the White House said.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters: “There is no military solution to the current crisis in Libya and there must be an immediate ceasefire.”

Egypt is concerned about instability in Libya and Turkey’s support for Tripoli forces.

Tripoli government forces have approached the central city of Sirte, which they hope to recover from the Libyan National Army in Haftar and is the gateway to the LNA-owned oil export ports. Sisi has stated that the Sirte front line is a red line for Egypt.

Egyptian officials often refer to armed groups in Tripoli and western Libya as “militias” and view Haftar as the leader of an “anti-terrorism force”.