Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned on Saturday June 20 that any advance by Turkish-backed National Unity Government (GNA) forces to the strategic city of Sirte in Libya could lead to "direct" intervention from Cairo.

With support from Ankara, forces loyal to the UN-recognized Tripoli-based GNA have garnered significant victories since early June, regaining control of the whole of northwest Libya. reports to Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

The rival troops of the eastern Libyan strongman, supported by Egypt among others, have not stopped falling in recent weeks, signifying the failure of their Tripoli offensive launched in April 2019.

The forces of the GNA nevertheless remain hampered in their advance towards the coastal city of Sirte, strategic lock towards the East and under the control of Marshal Haftar.

The GNA denounces an interference by Egypt

Birthplace of ex-dictator Muammar Gaddafi, Sirte, as well as Al-Joufra further south, represent a "red line", warned Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, during a speech broadcast on television.

If this line is crossed, the security of Egypt, which shares a porous border with Libya, will require "direct intervention" by Egyptian forces in the country, he said.

"Any direct intervention by Egypt has become legitimate at the international level, whether under the UN Charter on self-defense or based on the only legitimate authority elected by the Libyan people: the Parliament Libyan "based in the East, said Abdel Fattah al-Sissi. "If the Libyan people ask us to intervene, it is a signal to the world that Egypt and Libya share (...) common interests, security and stability," he added.

For the GNA, this is "interference in (internal) affairs and a serious threat to the national security of Libya" and "international peace", said Mohamad Amari Zayed, member of the GNA Presidential Council .

"There can be no red lines inside our borders and on our land," he said. "No foreign party will have authority over its people."

Ankara: Egypt seeks to save time

Ankara for its part demanded Saturday the withdrawal of the troops of Marshal Haftar from the city of Sirte as a prerequisite for any truce.

These successive warnings come after the invitation issued by Cairo, and refused Friday evening by the GNA, to attend an emergency meeting on Libya of the Arab League, whose headquarters are based in the Egyptian capital.

The GNA and Turkey expressed their skepticism, considering the Egyptian initiative as a way to save time for Marshal Haftar, who is also supported by the United Arab Emirates and Russia.

With AFP

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