Al-Sisi’s intervention threat declaration of war: Libya

Statements by Egyptian leader Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi tantamount to interfering in Libya's internal affairs, says govt

TRIPOLI: The Libyan government on Sunday dubbed Egyptian president’s military intervention threat as a “declaration of war.”

“The statements of the Egyptian President [Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi], which are harassing Libya's sovereignty and meddling in its internal affairs, and supporting putschists, militias and mercenaries in Libya are unacceptable,” the government’s press office said in a statement.

“These are seen as hostile steps and clear intervention to internal affairs, and a declaration of war,” it added.

In a television 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 Libyan government said it has always called for a political solution, however, eastern Libya-based warlord Khalifa Haftar and his supporters started to attack the capital Tripoli.

Many countries closed their eyes to violations and crimes by Haftar, it said.

Noting that those countries started to talk about “political solution and dialogue” as Haftar forces suffered defeat, the Libyan government said that now they resort to intervention threats.

Highlighting that “all of Libya is the red line,” it said those lines are not drawn by such statements but by the blood of martyrs, in reference to al-Sisi’s remarks, who said: “Sirte and Jufra are the red line.”

The UN recognises the Libyan government headed by Fayez al-Sarraj as the country's legitimate authority as Tripoli battles the militias of Haftar.

The government launched Operation Peace Storm against Haftar in March to counter attacks on the capital, Tripoli, and recently liberated 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.