Egypt has announced that they are establishing a new commando force as part of their navy. This force will work with Libya’s self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA) to block Turkey from getting its ships to the Libyan coast.
Egypt has long backed Gen. Khalifa Hafter’s coup attempt in Libya, in which his LNA are aiming to take the capital of Tripoli. The Government of National Accord (GNA), in Tripoli, is backed by Turkey, and Turkish officials have promised to keep sending military support.
Turkey’s support includes sending arms, and smuggling in Syrian rebels to fight against the LNA. Egypt has been working with the LNA on trying to keep Turkish ships from getting more forces in, and now it seems Egypt is going to get directly involved.
The LNA has substantial backing from foreign powers, including Egypt and most of the Gulf Arab states. Turkey is one of the few nations publicly backing the GNA, and has since the GNA gave them exploration rights for offshore oil and gas.
“The LNA has substantial backing from foreign powers, including Egypt and most of the Gulf Arab states. Turkey is one of the few nations publicly backing the GNA”
The GNA is the Government of National Accord that was set up by a UN initiative, and has unanimous support of the UN Security Council. Thus, the US formally supports it too. So does all of NATO, and the EU.
This talk of “substantial backing” for the eastern insurgents is a serious mistake and misunderstanding. The US considers that Hafter has gone rogue, a former CIA asset/Ghadaffi general who has let his ambitions rule against his own former sponsors.
Hafter is now supported by Egypt and the Gulf Arabs, and fights as yet another jihadi project in the style of Syrian “rebels.” It’s Western support is despite the UN and Western governments, because at the moment it is popular to oppose Turkey and support Israeli allies-of-the-moment.
Sissi might just get his butt kicked.