Egypt's Sisi wins parliamentary approval for possible Libya intervention
CGTN

Egypt's parliament gave President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi the green light for possible military intervention in Libya by approving the deployment of armed forces abroad to fight "terrorist groups" and "militias."

A sharp military escalation in Libya, where fighters led by eastern commander Khalifa Haftar have been battling the forces of the internationally recognized government, could risk igniting a direct conflict among the foreign powers that have poured in weapons and fighters in violation of an arms embargo.

Sisi warned last week that Egypt would not stand idle if there was a threat to national security in Egypt and its western neighbor, Libya.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York City, the U.S. /Reuters

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York City, the U.S. /Reuters

Egypt, alongside the United Arab Emirates and Russia, backs Haftar, who abandoned an offensive on the capital Tripoli last month against forces backed by Turkey.

Read more:

The complicated case of Libya and its militias

Libya unity govt says Egypt threat 'declaration of war'

Libyan lawmakers allied to Haftar asked Cairo this month to intervene militarily to counter Turkey.

The Egyptian parliament said in a statement on Monday's vote that troops would be defending national security on a "strategic" western front, without giving details, any time frame or naming Libya directly. It also did not mention Turkey.

Egyptian state TV later ran banners on the screen saying: "Egypt and Libya, one people, one fate."

File photo of U.S. President Donald Trump (R) greeting Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York City, New York, the U.S. /Reuters

File photo of U.S. President Donald Trump (R) greeting Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York City, New York, the U.S. /Reuters

Trump, Sisi call for immediate de-escalation

In a phone conversation on Monday, Sisi and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump "affirmed the need for immediate de-escalation in Libya, including through a ceasefire and progress on economic and political negotiations", the White House said in a statement.

Trump Monday also talked to French President Emmanuel Macron on ways to de-escalate the situation in Libya, according to a separate statement the White House released.

Libya has been engaged in a civil war since the ouster and killing of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

The situation escalated in 2014, splitting power between two rivals with warring forces – the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) based in the capital Tripoli and the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Khalifa Haftar. 

(With input from agencies)