CAIRO - 21 July 2020: Less than a week after Eygpt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said Egypt may intervene in Libya to face terrorism and protect national security at the Libyans' request and following the Parliament's approval, the Egyptian House of Representatives on Monday has authorized Sisi to “take necessary measures” to protect national security, giving a green light for the president to send troops to the war-torn country.
This came in a closed Monday session on protecting the Egyptian and Libyan national security against terror threats. The session was attended only by the Parliament members and the general secretariat of the House.
Egypt Today obtained the Parliament's full statement in English concerning the outcome of the closed session.
"Pursuant to the provisions of Article 152 of the Egyptian Constitution and Article 130 of the Internal Regulations of the parliament, Dr. Ali Abdel Aal, the Speaker of the parliament, invited the members of the parliament to convene in a secret session attended by 510 members of the parliament, on Monday evening, 20th July, to consider the approval to send elements of the Egyptian armed forces on missions combat outside the borders of the Egyptian state, to defend the Egyptian national security in the west strategic direction against armed criminal militias and foreign terrorist elements until the end of the mission of the forces.
This historic session was attended by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Counselor Alaa Fouad, and Major General Mamdouh Shaheen, Assistant Minister of Defense.
During this session, the outcomes of the National Defense Council meeting, held on Sunday morning headed by the President of the Republic, were reviewed, and the threats that the state is exposed to from the western side, and the threat that poses to the Egyptian national security.
The speaker and the members of the parliament praised the efforts made by the armed forces supporting the nation’s shield and its sword, and its faithful patronage of national, Arab and regional constants, neither the people one day let the army down, nor the army one day let the people down.
The parliament stressed that the Egyptian nation throughout its history is a nation that calls for peace, but it does not accept encroachment on it or compromising its rights, and is able with the utmost force to defend itself and its interests and its brothers and neighbors from any danger or threat, and that the armed forces and their leadership have the constitutional license, It is legal to determine the time and place to respond to these threats.
The parliament unanimously approved the opinions of the deputies presen during the historical session to send elements of the Egyptian armed forces on combat missions outside the borders of the Egyptian state, to defend the Egyptian national security in the western strategic direction against the actions of armed criminal militias and foreign terrorist elements until the end of the mission of the forces.
Libya is suffering a severe division between two factions; the Libyan Parliament and the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar in the east and the GNA led by Fayez Al-Sarraj. The latter is internationally recognized but is not accepted by the Parliament.
Hundreds were killed in continuous battles between the LNA and the forces of the GNA, over the past year.
The Egyptian army’s planned intervention in Libya has been justified by the presence of militias in the war-torn country, which allegedly threatens the national security of both Libya and its eastern neighbor, Egypt.
During his meeting with the tribal chiefs on July 16, Sisi said Egypt has always stood by a peaceful solution in Libya through encouraging negotiations between Libyan factions. However, it will not stand idly as it watches activities that threaten Egypt’s national security.
“Egypt has the strongest Army in the region and Africa,” he said, adding that it is, however, wise and does not assail or invade other territories.
He noted that in case the Egyptian forces entered Libya, they will be led by tribal leaders carrying the Libyan flag. He added that the army intervention in Libya has to be approved by the Egyptian House of Representatives.
Sisi promised that Egypt will intervene "only at the Libyans' request and withdraw upon their order.”
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