The Egyptian parliament agreed on Monday that the army would carry out "combat missions" outside the border, in the context of a possible military intervention in Libya, while the United Nations warned the countries concerned not to pour oil on the fire, and Turkey stressed the need to cut support for retired Libyan Major General Khalifa Hifter.
The Egyptian Parliament announced - in a statement - that it had "unanimously approved the opinions of the deputies present to send elements of the Egyptian armed forces on combat missions outside the borders of the Egyptian state to defend Egyptian national security in the western strategic direction against the actions of armed criminal militias and foreign terrorist elements."
The Egyptian parliament - whose supporters of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi have an overwhelming majority - voted on this decision in a closed session, in which the deputies discussed "the threats facing the state" from the western side.
Mufti supports
In the same context, the Egyptian Grand Mufti, Shawky Allam, issued a statement praising the parliament’s decision regarding sending troops on combat missions outside the borders.
"Legally, the Egyptian people must stand united in front of these challenges with our armed forces and political leadership to confront all threats to our national and regional security in this delicate circumstance," the statement said.
The last time Egypt sent land forces abroad to fight in 1991 was in Kuwait, as part of a US-led coalition to expel Iraqi forces.
Trump, Sisi and Macron connections
Shortly before the parliament vote, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi spoke to US President Donald Trump.
The White House said - in a statement - that "the two leaders affirmed the necessity of halting the escalation immediately in Libya through a ceasefire and progress towards economic and political negotiations."
In the context of international contacts on Libya as well, Trump said in a telephone conversation with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, on Monday that the Libyan conflict "has been exacerbated by the entry of foreign powers and weapons."
Political and field developments related to the Libyan crisis are accelerating, amid strong anticipation of the prospects for the situation in Sirte and Al-Jafra, after the internationally recognized Libyan Al-Wefaq government confirmed that the storming of Sirte was "a final and very close issue."
Al-Sisi warned on June 20 that the Turkish-backed Al-Wefaq forces would advance towards the Libyan east, which would push Egypt into direct military intervention in Libya, which the Al-Wefaq government considered a "declaration of war."
United Nations concern
On the other hand, Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, expressed on Monday the International Organization's deep concern about the continued military build-up around Sirte.
Dujarric said that all parties - including the Egyptian authorities - know well the position of the United Nations that there is no military solution to the conflict in Libya.
The spokesman confirmed that the United Nations has contacted the Egyptian authorities recently, and that it continues to urge countries to help the Libyans to agree to a permanent ceasefire instead of "pouring oil on the fire," as he put it.
On the other hand, a spokesman for the House of Representatives held in the city of Tobruk (east of Libya) said that the decision of the Egyptian parliament on Monday came in response to the speech of Speaker of the House of Representatives Aqila Saleh before the Egyptian parliament.
Three-way meeting in Ankara
Meanwhile, the Turkish capital, Ankara, witnessed a tripartite meeting, which was held by the Turkish Minister of Defense, Hulusi Akar, with the Maltese Minister of Interior and National Security, Byron Kamilari, and the Minister of Interior of the Libyan National Accord Government, Fathi Pashaga.
Akar said that the support should be immediately cut off from what he described as a coup d'état, Khalifa Hifter, who said he was ruining peace, security and territorial integrity.
The Turkish Minister of Defense pointed out that providing stability and peace in Libya will not only be important for the region, but for the whole world.
For his part, the Minister of Interior of the Al-Wefaq government said that supporting Libyan security means supporting the security of the region. He added that Haftar's "assaults" contribute to destabilizing security not only in Libya, but in the entire region, and the responsibility for this is not borne by Haftar alone, but by everyone who supports him as well.
Pashaga pointed out that the attacks of Haftar have caused the deaths of many Libyans, and great damage to the country's infrastructure.
The Libyan minister said that the tripartite meeting will enhance the existing cooperation between his country, Turkey and Malta, indicating that irregular migration and security issues were the focus of the meeting's talks.