The east-based Libyan parliament granted on Tuesday the Egyptian armed forces the right to intervene to protect Egyptian and Libyan national security “if the need arose”.
In a statement, it said that the “joining of Libyan and Egyptian efforts will ensure the defeat of the invading occupier, preserve our joint national security and ensure the security and stability of our country and region.”
The Egyptian armed forces may intervene to protect Libyan and Egyptian national security “if they believed an imminent danger was threatening our nations.”
“Our repelling of invaders preserves Libya’s sovereignty, unity and resources against colonizers,” the parliament added.
“The parliament is the only legitimate elected representative of the Libyan people and it represents their free will,” it stressed.
In June, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered his army to be ready to carry out any mission inside or outside the country to protect its national security.
He said that Egypt’s national security is connected to the stability of regional countries.
“We will not allow any threat to our western borders,” he announced, while urging a ceasefire in Libya according to the current frontlines.
“Any direct Egyptian intervention in Libya will be aimed at reaching a ceasefire. Any direct Egyptian intervention is now legitimate,” he declared.
“If some people think that they can cross the Sirte-Jufra frontline, this is a red line for us”, he said before an audience that included some Libyan tribal leaders.
