Libya's security is part of Egypt's security: Libyan commander

CAIRO – 17 July 2017: Libya's security is part of Egypt's security and vice versa, said the Libyan National Army's (LNA) Special Forces Commander Wanis Bukhamada.

The Libyan military leader expressed his gratitude to the Egyptian people for their support to the Libyans during the LNA’s fight against terrorism, in a statement on Sunday to Egypt Today.


Libyan National Army's (LNA) Special Forces Commander Wanis Bukhamada

It came a few days after Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar declared victory in the LNA’s battle against Islamist militias and the Islamic State for control of the eastern city of Benghazi.

The LNA offensive “Operation Dignity” has finally managed to expel the terror groups from the city after extensive fighting that began in May 2014.

Bukhamada praised Egypt’s supportive role toward the Libyan army and highlighted cooperation with Egyptian armed forces to exchange expertise in different fields, in addition to efforts made towards the stability of Libya.

He referred to the May visit made by Egyptian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mahmoud Hegazy to Libya, during which he headed a military delegation to take part in the Libyan army’s celebrations for the third anniversary of Operation Karama (Dignity), the goal of which was to drive armed militias out of Libya.

Bukhamada accused Qatar, Turkey and Sudan of supporting the Benghazi Shura Council, which includes Ansar al-Sharia Brigades, al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
He claimed that Qatar and Turkey send weapons to terrorist cells and extremist groups in the western Libyan region.

The Libyan commander invited all Libyan nationalists in different parts of Libya to join the LNA to eliminate the remnants of terrorism in the country.

He revealed that the death toll of the Libyan Special Forces during the Battle of the Liberation of Benghazi reached more than 1,300 martyrs, with nearly 2,500 wounded.

He stressed that the LNA will honor all the families of martyrs, pointing out that a large celebration will be organized in the liberated city and a memorial to all the martyrs will be built there.

Since the February 2011 revolution that overthrew long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has become the largest security threat facing the Egyptian state.

The frequent failures of international reconciliation attempts and weapons falling into the hands of different militant groups forced Egypt to play a major role in solving the Libyan crises.

Bukhamada himself had reportedly escaped a car bombing in Benghazi in 2016 when an explosive-laden vehicle was spotted.

Additional reporting by Ahmed Gomaa