The Libyan parliament called on the government to be at full readiness against “aggression” from Egypt, denouncing recent comments by Egypt’s Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi that his army could intervene in the war-torn country, reported Anadolu Agency.
In a recent statement, Libyan lawmakers asked authorities to take seriously recent threats by al-Sisi and to review all possible courses of action to respond in the “suitable time and place.”
The statement on Saturday said al-Sisi’s comments, which alluded to the possibility of sending an external military mission to Libya, amounted to “a direct threat of use of force against our state.”
“Libya didn’t pose a threat to Egypt’s security, but rather the Egyptian regime contributed to the aggression on Libya’s sovereignty and interfered with its safety and integrity of its territories,” it said.
It also condemned al-Sisi for saying the Libyan army was a “terrorist militia,” underlining that the country’s military fought against terrorism under the internationally-recognized Libyan government.
Al-Sisi’s threat is violation to the international law, as well as Libya’s sovereignty, it added.
In a TV speech in the Egyptian city of Matrouh near the Libyan border on Saturday, al-Sisi suggested that Cairo could launch “external military missions” into Libya “if required,” saying that “any direct intervention in Libya has already become legitimate internationally.”
Al-Sisi told his army to “be prepared to carry out any mission here within our borders, or if necessary outside our borders.”
The UN recognizes the Libyan government headed by Fayez al-Sarraj as the country’s legitimate authority as Tripoli battles the militias of renegade general Khalifa Haftar.
The government launched Operation Peace Storm against Haftar in March to counter attacks on the capital, Tripoli, and recently regained strategic locations, including Tarhuna, Haftar’s final stronghold in western Libya.
It has severely condemned military backing by Egypt, the UAE, France and Russia to Haftar’s attacks on Tripoli, which began on April 4, 2019.
Libyan army: Al-Sisi’s remarks a ‘war declaration’
In the same context, the Libyan army on Saturday denounced remarks of al-Sisi, calling them “a clear declaration of war and a blatant interference” in Libyan affairs, reported Anadolu Agency .
This came in a statement by Abdel-Hadi Darah, a military spokesman of Path of Victory operation.
“Sisi’s statements that Sirte and Jufra are a red line, according to his description, is a blatant interference in our country’s affairs, and we consider it a clear declaration of a war on Libya,” Darah said.
“Our heroic forces are determined to complete the journey and liberate the entire region from terrorist militias [loyal to warlord Khalifa Haftar], their mercenaries as well as their supporters,” he added.
In a TV speech in the Egyptian city of Matrouh near the Libyan borders on Saturday, al-Sisi alluded to the possibility of sending the country’s “external military missions if required,” saying that “any direct intervention in Libya has already become legitimate internationally.”
Al-Sisi told his army “be prepared to carry out any mission here within our borders, or if necessary outside our borders.” “Sirte and Jufra are a red line,” he added.
Al-Sisi stressed that “any direct interference from Egypt [in Libya] has now acquired the international legitimacy, either with the right to self-defense, or at the request of the only legitimate elected authority in Libya, which is the House of Representatives [Tobruk].”
However, the UN recognizes the government headed by Fayez al-Sarraj.
The government launched Operation Peace Storm against Haftar in March to counter attacks on the capital and recently regained strategic locations, including Tarhuna, Haftar’s final stronghold in western Libya.
The Libyan government has severely condemned the military support by Egypt, the UAE, France and Russia for the attacks of Haftar’s militias on the capital, Tripoli, which began on April 4, 2019.
Remarks by Sisi is “playing the drums of war,” a member of the Libyan High Council of State said late Saturday, according to Anadolu Agency .
Al-Sisi alluded to the possibility of sending “external military missions if required,” and said that “any direct intervention in Libya has already become legitimate internationally,” while in Matrouh, near the Libyan border.
After the comments, Abdurrahman Shater said in a tweet that Egypt has intervened in Libya’s internal affairs for four years.
He said his country’s security and democracy have been in danger since al-Sisi insisted on bringing in military troops that Libyans did not accept.
“Take your hands off us, do not repeat the tragedy in Yemen,” he told al-Sisi.
Meanwhile, the MPs and the government have been asked to respond to al-Sisi’s threats.
However, the UN recognizes the government headed by Fayez al-Sarraj.
The government launched Operation Peace Storm against warlord Khalifa Haftar in March to counter attacks on the capital and recently regained strategic locations, including Tarhuna, Haftar’s final stronghold in western Libya.
The Libyan government has condemned the military support by Egypt, the UAE, France and Russia for attacks by Haftar’s militias on Tripoli which began April 4, 2019.
