Egypt's parliament gave President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi the green light for possible military intervention in Libya by approving the deployment of armed forces abroad to fight "terrorist groups" and "militias".
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in November 18, 2019. Photo: AFP / Odd Andersen
A sharp military escalation in Libya, where fighters led by eastern commander Khalifa Haftar have been battling the forces of the internationally recognised government, could risk igniting a direct conflict among the foreign powers that have poured in weapons and fighters in violation of an arms embargo.
Sisi warned last week that Egypt would not stand idle if there was a threat to national security in Egypt and its western neighbour, Libya.
Egypt, alongside the United Arab Emirates and Russia, backs Haftar, who abandoned an offensive on the capital last month after Turkey stepped up support for Tripoli.
Egypt has flown air strikes on suspected militants in Libya since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 plunged the oil producer into chaos.
It has also supported Haftar, an ex-Gaddafi general, since 2014 when he assembled a force in eastern Libya, according to UN reports. But sending ground-combat troops would be a major escalation.
Members of the self-proclaimed eastern Libyan National Army (LNA) special forces gather in the city of Benghazi on June 18, 2020. Photo: AFP / Abdullah Doma
The eastern-based Libyan parliament allied to Haftar asked Cairo this month to intervene militarily to counter Turkey, and its president welcomed Egypt's move on Monday, a spokesperson said.
The Egyptian parliament said on the vote supported by all present MPs that troops would be defending national security on the "strategic western front against the work of armed criminal militias and foreign terrorist elements."
It did not give details, a time frame or name Libya directly. It also did not mention Turkey.
Egyptian state TV later ran banners on the screen saying: "Egypt and Libya, one people, one fate."
The last time Egypt sent ground troops abroad for combat was in 1991 in Kuwait as part of a US-led coalition to drive out Iraqi troops.
Sisi speaks to Trump
Shortly before the vote, Sisi and US President Donald Trump spoke by phone.
"The two leaders affirmed the need for immediate de-escalation in Libya, including through a ceasefire and progress on 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 arms," the White House said.
UN spokesperson 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.
The Tripoli government's forces have moved closer to the central city of Sirte, which they hope to recapture from Haftar's Libyan National Army and is the gateway to oil-exporting ports held by the LNA. Sisi has declared the Sirte front line a red line for Egypt.
Egyptian officials often refer to armed groups in Tripoli and western Libya as "militias" and see Haftar as leading a "counter-terrorism force".
- Reuters
