Libya’s parliament asks the Egyptian army to intervene

Libya’s parliament has called on the Egyptian army to intervene to “protect the security of both countries” in light of Turkish support for the rival government of the National Accord (GNA).

The parliament in the eastern city of Tobruk supports the military commander Khalifa Haftar, who has been on an offensive since April 2019 to conquer the capital Tripoli.

Haftar is supported by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia, while the GNA has the support of Turkey and Qatar.

In a statement Monday, the Tobruk parliament called for the Libyan and Egyptian forces to join forces to defeat the “invading occupier,” a reference to Turkey.

Last month, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi had said that direct intervention by Egypt in neighboring Libya was legitimate in light of Turkey’s role in the North African country.

Al-Sissi warned that the strategic city of Sirte in Libya is a red line that should not be crossed by GNA fighters.

Things have been turbulent in oil-rich Libya since a 2011 uprising that overturned dictator Muammar Gaddafi.