Libyans to Request Egypt's Military Intervention in This Case: Saleh

Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives Aqila Saleh announced Wednesday that Libyan people will formally request Egypt's military intervention if necessary.

In press statements, he added that the Egyptian intervention would be legitimate and under the Libyan people's mandate.

"We will ask the Egyptian army to support its Libyan counterpart in case of the penetration of Sirte by armed militias," Saleh confirmed.

Moreover, he added that the Libyan parliament is the only elected and representative authority of the people, noting that armed militias in Tripoli must be dissolved voluntarily or by force.

In addition, Saleh revealed that Turkey brought more than 15,000 mercenaries to Tripoli.

Sisi’s statements on Libya

“Any direct intervention by Egypt has become internationally legitimate, whether under the UN charter on self-defense or based on the sole legitimate authority elected by the Libyan people: the Libyan parliament,” Sisi said.

The president underlined the outcomes of the Berlin Conference held in January stating that all foreign powers shall refrain from supplying arms to Libyan armed groups.

The president warned in his speech in Sidi Barani district in Matrouh Governorate bordering Libya against the foreign intervention in Libya since it is a threat to regional, European, and global security and stability.

The president asserted the withdrawal of mercenaries from Libya, and the necessity that militias give up their arms to the Libyan National Army (LNA).

Egypt’s Sisi launched a political initiative earlier this month, which he called the “Cairo initiative,” in the hopes of paving a path toward normalcy in Libya and warned against using military tactics to resolve the crisis.

Libya has been mired in chaos since a Western-backed  2011 uprising toppled longtime dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi only to leave rival warlords fighting for control of the country’s oil wealth and drawing in international powers as the conflict has ebbed and flowed.

Turkey has forged strong ties with GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj, sending sophisticated drones and air defence systems that helped him repel Haftar’s recent operations.