Egypt’s parliament approves deployment of troops to Libya to protect 'national security'

Egypt’s parliament has authorised the deployment of troops outside the country after the president threatened military action against Turkish-backed forces in Libya.

President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi has called the strategic coastal city of Sirte a "red line” and warned that any attack on the town would prompt Cairo to intervene militarily to protect its western border with the oil-rich country.

Egypt’s House of Representatives, packed with supporters of President Sisi, approved plans to send troops to "defend Egyptian national security” after a closed-door session on Monday.

The vote was initially scheduled for Sunday but was moved to Monday in a closed session, according to lawmaker Mustafa Bakry.

Parliament members attend a general session in Cairo. AFP

Egypt has been backing the eastern-based Libyan forces in the conflict while Turkey backs the forces in the capital, Tripoli. Egypt’s president warned in June that any attack on Sirte or the inland Jufra air base would prompt Cairo to intervene militarily, purportedly to protect its western border with Libya.

"Egypt will spare no efforts to support the sister Libya ... to overcome the current critical crisis,” the Egyptian presidency said in a statement after a meeting of the National Defence Council on Sunday that was chaired by Sisi.

In a call on Monday with US President Donald Trump, Sisi emphasised Egypt’s aim to "prevent further deterioration of security in Libya,” according to a statement from the Egyptian presidential spokesman. It said the two leaders agreed on maintaining a cease-fire and avoiding a military escalation in Libya.

Egypt’s state-run Al-Ahram daily reported on Sunday that the vote in parliament was intended to mandate Sisi to "intervene militarily in Libya to help defend the western neighbour against Turkish aggression.”

Stephanie Williams, acting head of the UN support mission in Libya, on Monday called for an "immediate cease-fire ... to spare the 125,000 civilians who remain in harm’s way and for an end to the blatant violations of the UN arms embargo.”

Her comments came following her meeting on Sunday with the president of neighboring Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

Hifter’s forces launched an offensive to take Tripoli from the UN-supported government in April last year but their campaign — which had stalemated after reaching the outskirts of the Libyan capital — suffered a blow last month when the Tripoli-allied forces, with Turkish support, pushed them back and gained the upper hand in the fighting.

Associated Press