Egypt Parliament Approves The Deployment Of Military Forces To Libya If The City Of Sirte Is Attacked

Egyptian parliament members on Monday approved the possible deployment of troops in Libya to support Khalifa Haftar, if rival Turkish-backed forces recapture Sirte. (AFP)

France 24: Egypt parliament greenlights possible intervention in Libya

Egypt's parliament on Monday greenlighted a possible deployment of troops outside its borders, after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi spoke of potential military operations in neighbouring Libya.

Lawmakers unanimously approved "the deployment of members of the Egyptian armed forces on combat missions outside Egypt's borders to defend Egyptian national security... against criminal armed militias and foreign terrorist elements," it said in a statement.

Monday's vote, in a legislature packed with Sisi supporters, took place in a closed session where deputies discussed "threats faced by the state" from the west, where Egypt shares a porous desert border with war-torn Libya.

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More News On The Egypt Parliament Approving The Deployment Of Military Forces To Libya

Egypt's parliament approves sending troops abroad to defend national security -- Ahram Online
Egypt parliament backs deployment abroad after Sisi says could intervene in Libya -- CNA/Reuters
Egypt's parliament approves sending troops abroad to protect 'national security' -- Middle East Monitor
Egypt parliament approves possible intervention in Libya -- Arab News/AP
Egypt's parliament approves troop deployment to Libya -- Al Jazeera
Egypt's Parl't Approves Permission to Deploy Troops to Carry Out Combat Missions Abroad, Reports Say -- Sputnik
Egypt’s parliament to vote on deploying troops to Libya as Turkey-allied forces threaten to take Sirte -- RT

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Threatens Military Intervention In Libya. Tells Military To Get Ready

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi during his inspection tour of Egypt's Western Military Zone’s personnel on Saturday

Reuters: Egypt has a legitimate right to intervene in Libya, Sisi says

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday said his country has a legitimate right to intervene in neighbouring Libya and ordered his army to be ready to carry out any mission outside the country, if necessary.

Sisi’s comments came amid high tensions over regional rival Turkey’s intervention in Libya. He also warned forces loyal to the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli not to cross the current frontline with Khalifa Haftar’s eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA).

Turkey’s support for the GNA has reversed a 14-month assault on Tripoli by forces loyal to Haftar, which are backed by Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

“Any direct intervention from the Egyptian state has now acquired international legitimacy,” Sisi told an audience after inspecting military units at an air base near the border with Libya.

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WNU Editor: Turkey's intervention is the Libyan war tipped the war in favour of the Tripoli government. Turkey's announcement last week that they are going to establish a military base in the country has further changed the geopolitical situation. But what I think got everyone's attention are reports that Turkey is now going to base jet fighters and attack helicopters in Libya .... Turkey may deploy F-16s, attack helicopters in Libya, columnist says (Ahval). I now expect Egypt and other countries will intervene directly in the war against Turkey and its Libyan allies.

Update: This summit will green-light an Egyptian intervention .... Egypt calls emergency Arab League meeting on Libya (Al-Monitor).

More News On Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Threatening Military Intervention In Libya

Egypt's el-Sisi orders army to be ready for missions abroad -- Al Jazeera
El Sisi: Egypt prepared for military intervention in Libya -- The National
Egypt's President Tells Troops to Be Ready to Fight Abroad -- Al Jazeera
missions outside borders if necessary -- Egypt
Egypt’s Sisi Warns of Intervention in Libya Over Sirte -- Bloomberg
Egypt's Sisi threatens military intervention in Libya -- Libyan Observer
Sisi says any Egyptian intervention in Libya now has international legitimacy -- Ahram Online

Egypt Launches Air Strikes Against Libyan Militant Bases After Today's Massacre Of Christians In Central Egypt

DW: Egypt hits Libya training bases with airstrikes after attack on Christian Coptics

After a bus carrying Christians to a monastery was attacked by masked gunmen, Egypt has launched airstrikes against militant bases in Libya. Pope Francis called the attack on the Christians a senseless act of hatred.

Egyptian air force planes have carried out six strikes directed at camps near Derna in Libya where Cairo believes militants responsible for a deadly attack on Christians earlier in the day were trained, Egyptian military sources said on Friday.

The report came minutes after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had announced Egyptian forces struck jihadist camps but without saying where the strikes took place.

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More News On Egypt Launching Air Strikes Against Libyan Militant Bases After Today's Massacre Of Christians In Central Egypt

The Latest: Egypt strikes bases in Libya after Copts attack -- AP
Egypt hits jihadists after attack on Christians kills 28 -- AFP
Egypt launches air raids on Libya after Christians killed -- Reuters
Egypt hits 'jihadist camps' after attack on Coptic Christians -- BBC
Egypt strikes militant bases after 28 Coptic Christians killed in ambush -- USA Today
Sisi says Egypt has carried out airstrike on terror camps; sources confirm location is Libya -- Ahram Online
Egypt strikes 'terrorist camps' in Libya in response to attack on Coptic Christians (VIDEO) -- RT
A look at extremist attacks on Egypt’s Coptic Christians -- AP

Egypt Launches Airstrikes On Islamic State Targets In Libya

Daily Mail: Egypt retaliates with air strikes after ISIS marches 21 Coptic Christians along a lonely Libyan beach and beheads them en masse for their faith

* Egyptian warplanes struck Islamic State targets in eastern Libya today
* There were at least seven airstrikes in the Islamist-held city of Derna
* Strikes come after ISIS-affiliated militants murdered 21 Egyptians in Libya
* Militants last night released video showing the Coptic Christians' murder
* Men were paraded on a beach by masked killed before savage beheadings
* Egyptian government last night vowed 'to avenge the bloodshed and to seek retribution from the killers'
* Pope Francis has expressed his 'profound sadness' over the Libya killings
* He said the victims had been murdered 'for nothing other than their faith'

More News On Egypt Launching Airstrikes On Islamic State Targets In Libya

Egypt bombs Islamic State targets in Libya after 21 Egyptians beheaded -- Reuters
Egypt strikes IS group in Libya after video of mass killing -- AP
Egypt bombs IS in Libya after beheadings video -- BBC
Egyptian, Libyan Airstrikes Target IS in Libya -- VOA
Libya prime minister calls for international strikes on Islamists -- Reuters
Libya's 'Islamist' Parliament Blasts Egypt's Anti-ISIL Airstrikes -- Sputnik
Tripoli-based parliament says Egyptian strike assault on sovereignty: spokesman -- Reuters
Egypt calls for coalition to fight 'Islamic State'-linked Libya militants -- Deutsche Welle
Egypt calls for anti-Islamic State coalition to confront militants in Libya -- Reuters
Local Copts ‘now under threat from ISIS sympathisers’ -- The Australian
Egypt strikes back, but how far will ISIS fight go? -- Eman El-Shenawi, Al Arabiya News

Is Egypt About To Intervene In Libya's Civil War?

Speaker of Parliament Aqilah Saleh met with Al-Sisi [Pictured above] in Cairo on August 26, after the meeting he told the Egyptian media that 'Sisi pledged to rebuild the Libyan army and assist with establishing a civilian police force'.

Egypt Prepares For Wider Attack On Libya With UAE Funding And French-Saudi Support -- Middle East Online

Egyptian armed forces are preparing for the execution of an extensive operation inside Libya in order to fight the revolutionaries and support the militias that are loyal to the UAE in Tripoli and Benghazi including troops commandeered by Brigadier General Khalifa Haftar, high ranking officials revealed.

The operation may include a possible ground invasion in East Libya with French aerial cover and funding from the UAE in order to enable Haftar to decisively win the battle, the sources told the Asrar Arabiya website.

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More News On Reports That Egypt Is About To Intervene In Libya's Civil War

Haftar sign cooperation agreement with Egypt -- Middle East Monitor
A security agreement to legitimise Egyptian intervention in Libya -- Middle East Monitor
Egypt seeks broader alliance with U.S. over Libya -- CBC/AP
Libya's leaders shelter by the sea as country tilts toward civil war -- L.A. Times
Libyan PM says Qatar sent arms to opposition -- Al Jazeera
Qatar hits back at claims of role in Libya unrest -- Al Arabiya
Libya: An Expensive And Thankless Job -- Strategy Page
Egypt Is Really Worried About Libyan Islamists -- John Beck, Vice News

My Comment: This is a major military escalation in the region .... and while I am not surprised by the coalition that has formed to try and bring stability to Libya, what is noticeably absent is the presence of the U.S..