The situation in Libya could be coming to a head with a possible military intervention by Egypt. Speaking at an Egyptian military base near the Libyan-Egyptian border, President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi said on Saturday that Egypt would intervene militarily in Libya if there is a direct threat to Egypt’s security. As an act of self-defense, he said, such an intervention would be legitimate under the UN charter and would be approved of by the Libyan House of Representatives in Tobruk. Al Sisi warned forces loyal to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord, which is now being militarily backed by Turkey, not to proceed beyond the current front line with the Libyan Nation Army, which is under the command of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar
This is the first time that Al Sisi has publicly spoken of military intervention in Libya as a possible course of action.
“Those who interpreted our patience for weakness are mistaken,” Al Sisi said on Saturday. He added that if Egypt did militarily intervene, it would withdraw its forces from Libya when their objectives were met.
Al Sisi’s statement follows a call he made this month calling for a ceasefire in Libya as part of an initiative that also proposed an elected leadership council. Al Sisi earlier said Egypt did not want to intervene in Libya, favoring a political solution, but “the situation now is different”. In an obvious reference to Turkey, El Sisi said, “If some people think that they can cross the Sirte-Jufra frontline, this is a red line for us.” He continued, “If the Libyan people moved through you [tribal leaders in attendance] and asked us to intervene, this would be a signal to the world that Egypt and Libya are one country, one interest.”
