An Egyptian delegation kicked off on Sunday an official visit to the Libyan capital Tripoli, the first since 2014.
The delegation included senior officials from the general intelligence, foreign ministry and Egyptian committee tasked with following up on Libyan affairs.
It met with senior officials from the Government of National Accord (GNA), which is headed by Fayez al-Sarraj. The officials met with his deputy Ahmed Maiteeq, the GNA foreign and interior ministers, commander of the armed forces, and commander of the western operations Osama al-Juwaili.
Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha said talks focused on joint security challenges and bolstering security cooperation between Cairo and Tripoli. They also discussed ways to support the recent ceasefire, the outcomes of the 5+5 committee meetings, United Nations efforts in holding political dialogue and ways to resolve the crisis through political and peaceful means.
Egypt, which enjoys strong ties with the Libyan administration in the east, has in recent weeks been opening up to the GNA. In a sign of the new rapprochement, the delegation visited the Egyptian embassy in Tripoli. The mission has been shut for years and the visit may be a precursor to its reopening.
Pro-GNA media quoted a diplomatic source as saying that the visit was the beginning of an attempt to restore diplomatic relations. Libyan officials had requested from their visitors that Egypt restore consular services and resume flights between Tripoli and Cairo airport.
The Egyptian officials did not hold talks with either Defense Minister Salah al-Namroush or Sarraj.
The delegation’s visit coincided with that of Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, who met with GNA officials.
Informed Libyan sources revealed that war in the country was imminent after receiving confirmed information that Akar had discussed with the GNA a war plan that would target the Libyan National Army (LNA), commanded by Khalifa Haftar.
The war would target LNA positions in the central cities of Sirte and al-Jufra.
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that despite regional and international efforts to avert a new conflict, “war is on the horizon.”
They said that Turkey was seeking to launch a surprise attack against the LNA to force it to retreat from Sirte al-Jufra.
