Al-Sisi: Egypt will not stand idle in face of threats to national security
17 July، 2020
Al-Sisi: Egypt will not stand idle in face of threats to national security
Egypt will not stand idle in the face of any moves that pose a direct threat to Egyptian and Libyan national security, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Thursday, according to a presidency statement.
The statement also said tribal leaders meeting al-Sisi in Cairo had authorized the president and Egypt’s army to intervene in their country “to protect Libyan sovereignty.”
“As soon as Egypt interferes in Libya, the military scene will change quickly and decisively,” al-Sisi added, according to the presidency.
The tribesmen are allied to the eastern Libyan National Army commander Khalifa Haftar. Egypt borders Libya to the west.
Tensions have been escalating in Libya and between the countries which back the two warring parties in it, the Libyan National Army (LNA), commanded by Khalifa Haftar and the Government of National Accord (GNA), led by Fayez al-Serraj.
Al-Sisi had said that his country has a legitimate right to intervene in Libya and ordered the army to be prepared to carry out missions if necessary.
He said: “Any direct intervention from the Egyptian state has now acquired international legitimacy,” adding that Egypt had received “direct threats” from “terrorist militias and mercenaries” supported by foreign countries.
Earlier in June, Egypt had called for a ceasefire in Libya, Sisi added that Egypt has always been reluctant to intervene in Libya but “the situation now is different.”
