CAIRO - Turkey’s open war against the Libyan National Army is giving rise to calls in Egypt for involvement to help the Libyan forces defeat Islamist militias controlling parts of Libya, including Tripoli.
The showdown between Turkey and the Libyan National Army (LNA) has become more direct and pronounced following the June 30 arrest by the LNA of six Turkish nationals.
The LNA also shot down a Turkish drone over Mitiga International Airport, near Tripoli. LNA spokesman Major-General Ahmed al-Mesmari said the aircraft was en route to an attack on the airport and LNA troops. Turkey vowed to retaliate.
The LNA has complained that Turkey provided Islamist militias with armoured trucks and unmanned aerial vehicles. Istanbul reportedly sent military commanders to train the militias and help them stop the LNA’s campaign to capture Tripoli.
These are serious developments for Egypt, where political and military analysts called on authorities to increase support to the LNA.
“The Turkish presence in Libya primarily aims at inflicting harm on Egypt’s national security,” said retired Egyptian Army General Gamal Eddine Mazloum. “This is why Egypt should not leave the Libyan army alone in this battle.”
Egypt has had its fill of Libya-induced turmoil. A branch of the Islamic State is active in Sinai and Egyptian authorities say the group gets its arms and explosives smuggled from Libya.
Militant groups in Libya have infiltrated the Egyptian border and attacked civilians and military personnel.
Libya is a national security issue for Egypt, which is why it features highly in talks between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and world leaders, including during the recent G20 summit in Japan where Sisi met with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Russian President Vladimir Putin and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Through its involvement in Libya, Turkey has again stepped into Egypt’s immediate vicinity, a worrying development for Cairo
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