CAIRO, July 19 (NNN-MENA) – The Egyptian parliament is expected to hold a meeting this week, to discuss the political and military situation in neighbouring war-torn Libya, state-run Ahram Online news reported.
The discussion is to be followed by a vote to mandate President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, to intervene militarily in Libya, to help defend the western neighbour against Turkish interventions.
On Thursday, President Sisi vowed that his country will not stand idle in the face of any direct threats to the security of Egypt and Libya.
His remarks came, after tribal leaders allied to the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Khalifa Haftar authorised him, during a meeting in Cairo, to intervene militarily in Libya.
The tribesmen’s authorisation came, days after the eastern-based Libyan parliament decided to allow the Egyptian army to intervene in the country’s ongoing conflict to protect Egyptian and Libyan security.
During the meeting with tribal leaders, Sisi said, he needs to obtain the approval of the Egyptian parliament.
On June 20, Sisi threatened to send troops to Libya to protect “Egypt’s national security” as fighting between the Libyan rivals intensified.
Sisi also warned that Libya’s Sirte and al-Jafra, which are currently under the control of the Libyan National Army (LNA), are a “red line” in terms of Egypt’s national security.
Libya has been locked in a civil war since the ouster and killing of former leader, Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
The situation escalated in 2014, splitting power between two rivals with warring forces, namely the UN-backed Government of National Accord, based in the capital Tripoli and the eastern-based LNA led by Haftar.– NNN-MENA
