Egypt warns about foreign military intervention in Libya
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Foreign powers should stop intervening in Libya, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said on Sunday, after Turkey indicated it was ready to send in troops to help Libya’s UN-backed government.
El-Sissi said the fighting in Libya directly affects Egypt’s security.
“We could have intervened in Libya. But we didn’t do this and respected Libya’s circumstances to preserve fraternity,” he said.
The el-Sissi government supports Libyan military leader Khalifa Haftar, who earlier this week declared a “final” push to take over Tripoli. He is fighting the forces aligned with the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), based in the city.
El-Sisi said his country has been “negatively affected” by the conflict in Libya, which descended into chaos after the 2011 civil war that ousted and killed long-time dictator Moammar Gaddafi.
Last week, the Egyptian president said a comprehensive political solution would be achieved in the coming months that would put an end to a “terrorist hotbed that pushes militants and weapons to (Libya’s) neighbouring countries including Egypt.”
Earlier this week, Turkish strongman Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was ready to send Turkey’s troops to help the GNA if the Libyan officials requested it. A bilateral deal allowing for Ankara’s intervention was sent to Turkey’s parliament on Saturday evening.
On Sunday, GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj met with Erdogan and Turkey’s defense minister, Hulusi Akar, behind closed doors in Istanbul.
Last month, al-Sarraj signed a controversial accord with Ankara that expands Turkey’s continental shelf in the eastern Mediterranean. This could allow Turkey access to vast natural gas reserves.
Greece, Egypt and Cyprus have all slammed the deal as contrary to international law.
