The war in North Africa: Egypt's Parliament paves way for military intervention in Libya

The Egyptian Parliament approved on Monday a military intervention in the neighbouring civil war in the country of Libya. Thus, the risk of a direct confrontation of Turkish with Egyptian armed forces. In a closed session of the house of representatives for "combat missions outside Egypt agreed to defend the national security in a westerly direction against criminals and armed militias and foreign terrorist elements". The Parliament granted the mandate, unanimously, as the state media reported. It is a direct response to the military action of Turkey in Libya, the supports in turn the internationally-recognized government in the West, in Tripoli.

Egypt's support in the civil war, General Khalifa Haftar, which prevails in the East of Libya, and in April of 2019 Offensive on the located in the West of the capital Tripoli had arranged. The government of Prime Minister Fajis al-Sarradsch has its headquarters. You will be welcomed by Turkey and Qatar as well. By the military Intervention of Ankara Libyan government had blocked troops attack and Haftars troops pushed up to the coastal town of Sirte in the direction of the East, and thus in the direction of Egypt – back.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al Sisi had declared Libyan tribal leaders on Thursday that his country will not accept a threat from Libya idly. In a televised address, he said, the protection of their own borders justify Intervention in Libya on the basis of international law. A possible attack on Sirte, described al-Sisi as a red line. The city is 800 kilometers away from the border with Egypt.

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The war in Libya has developed to the proxy war. Haftar also gets support from Russia and the United Arab Emirates. The Parliament, in the East of Libya had called on Egypt, already a week ago to a military operation.

The Egyptian air force and special units of the army since the overthrow of Libyan ruler Muammar al-Gaddafi in 2011, in isolated cases, in Libya, in use. Since 2014 air operations to run with the Emirates over Libya. These inserts were now so far covered. Al-Sisi himself had proposed more than a month ago a political Initiative to end the fighting.

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The government in Cairo is concerned, but now more about the safety of the approximately 1200 kilometre long border in the barren desert land, where there were repeated terrorist attacks. In addition, Cairo wants to prevent Islamist groups to expand their influence in Libya. Al Sisi came through a coup against a President from the ranks of the Muslim brothers in Cairo in the Power, the Al-Sarradsch government is close to the Muslim brothers.