New footage of Russia made Pantsir missiles destroyed by Turkish drones in Libya
Posted on 07/20/2020 11:54:35 AM PDT by BeauBo
Egypt’s parliament voted on Monday to authorise the deployment of troops abroad in defence of the country’s national security, a move that could set the stage for a proxy war in neighbouring Libya between regional enemies Egypt and Turkey.
A statement by the 596-seat chamber made no direct mention of Libya, but used language that clearly indicated that the decision was meant for the vast, energy-rich North African star. It said the 510 MPs present voted unanimously in support of the resolution...
It said the authorisation for deploying troops abroad would be valid until their mission is completed...
...the vote, which was necessary under Egypt’s constitution. It prohibits troop deployment abroad without the house’s prior approval.
Egypt and Turkey have been at odds for years, with Cairo accusing the NATO member of destabilising the region. They support rival parties in the Libyan conflict...
If the Egyptian military deploys in Libya, it would be the first time that Cairo sends troops abroad on a combat mission since its participation in the 1991 liberation of Kuwait by a US-led coalition...
Monday’s vote followed last week’s move by the parliament in Libya’s eastern region, which Cairo recognises as Libya’s only legitimate seat of power, to invite military intervention by Egypt if both Cairo and the chamber agree that such action was needed...
(Excerpt) Read more at alkhaleejtoday.co ...
Egypt supports the pro-Western LNA faction, led by Khalifa Haftar (who lived in Northern Virginia for many years).
The article also provides this background and analysis"
"Libya has descended into deadly chaos following a 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi, with the east and west of the country ruled by rival administrations backed by armed militiamen. Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, leader of the Libyan National Army (LNA) and who is supported by Egypt and others, marched on Tripoli last year with the intention of toppling the UN- backed Government of National Accord there.
However, the territorial gains won by the LNA early in its 15-month campaign were rolled back after Turkey deployed thousands of Syrian mercenaries, armed drones and military advisers on the side of the Tripoli government. The GNA is now adamant to retake the coastal city of Sirte, something that Mr El Sisi described as a “red line” for Egypt...
(Analysts) said Egypt’s military intervention could tempt Turkey to expand its foothold in Libya and persuade Qatar, another enemy of Cairo, to spend more bankrolling Egypt’s enemies there.
But they also held out the possibility that Egyptian troops would cross into Libya, fan out in the eastern region and protect the oil region but not advance westward to the frontlines around the coastal city of Sirte while relying heavily on air power to pin down enemy forces."
I haven’t read enough about Libya so I could be wrong but it appears to be that Khalifa Haftar is exactly the kind of an Arab Strongman we need to back, especially in Middle East where the best form of a government is a secular but ruthless Arab Strongman.
FYI, Maybe Erdogan’s attention and resources (and more of his Foreign Legion jihadis in Syria) will be drawn into the Libyan front, in pursuit of oil revenues to sustain their movement (and fill Erdogan’s pockets).
I wonder how much the world would push back, if Egypt simply moved in and took over Libya.
This is apparently ethnic Arabs (backed by Egypt, most of the Arab world, France and Russia) against ethnic Turks, Berbers and everyone else (backed most prominently by Qatar and Turkey). The ethnic Arab side is a coalition of secularists and Islamists. The ethnic everybody else coalition is a real mishmash of ethnic and religious interests, but appears to have Islamists in the driver’s seat, as opposed to the ethnic Arab coalition which has the secularist Haftar in charge. In many ways, it’s similar to the kinds of political coalitions anywhere else in the world, except the voting consists of sending expensive ordnance downrange. Given that the national economy is in ruins, due to the ongoing conflict, thereby cratering tax revenues, foreign funding can be a huge factor in deciding who wins.
or Egypt’s population is a bit too high
I didn’t realize the Arab/Berber division. Interesting point.
Turkey definitely upped the ante with their commitment of additional jihadi troops out of Syria, and major arms shipments/upgrades - enough to save their side from final defeat around Tripoli, and turn the tide of the war.
Looks like another escalation is in the offing, with the large Egyptian Military poised to enter the fray.
Turkey and Egypt have the largest Sunni Armies. Turkey is harboring the cadre of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, the nemesis of the Egyptian Regime.
Turkey might well escalate again in response to the Egyptian Army entering Libya. If those two end up in direct conflict, it could be a major war.
It is probably more likely that Turkey will try to keep it a surrogate conflict - but there is off-shore oil at stake as well as the big oil fields on land. Turkey is angling to get direct control of the off-shore fields. Oil is the Edrogan Crime Family’s main racket, so that prize might tempt him enough to go all in.
“This is apparently ethnic Arabs... against ethnic... Berbers”
As John Batchelor is fond of saying, Egypt is a Nation, the rest of the Middle East are Tribes. The foreign sponsors can just stitch together an alliance of some tribes.
Ping.
Gosharooti. Libya has oil. Whodathunk that would be important./s
Gotta side with Egypt against Turkey. Egyptian military leadership is secular. Turkey used to be the same way but now they’re crazy since Erdogan took charge
Agree about favoring Egypt.
I just don’t see how Egypt can project military & sustain it very far out side their border. Libya is not small. During most years Egypt’s economy is a basket case. It doesn’t take much stress to make the economy a basket case in search of a basket. Turkey does have a better economy. It’s further away could cause Egypt trouble and never directly suffer any consequences.
“Egypt’s economy is a basket case... Turkey does have a better economy.”
Qatar has deep pockets, and also funds Turkish and Muslim Brotherhood operations like this (e.g. the former Brotherhood takeover in Egypt, and the Civil War in Syria).
Against the Muslim Brothers/Turks/Qataris, the Saudis have deep pockets, and a mortal enmity against the Brothers. The USA and Russia are both on this side as well, able to bring resources and capabilities to bear.
If Joe Biden gets elected though, the USA will once again change to be on the side of the Turks, Muslim Brotherhood and jihadis, just like when he was VP, and they were running Libyan weapons out of Benghazi, to the Turkish-led jihadis in Syria.
Now the flow of weapons and jihadis is heading the other way, into Libya, from Turkey and Syria.
Yes and thats makes the economic imbalance for Egypt even worse.
Historically, the Saudis have paid a kind of retainer to Egypt and Pakistan, to keep their large Military forces ready to back up the Saudis if needed.
Before the Gulf War, the last time the Egyptians deployed outside their country, was to back up the Saudis in Yemen.
The Saudis hate the Muslim Brotherhood, as does the Egyptian Regime. As a case in point, the Saudis recently got the most prominent Muslim Brotherhood citizen of Saudi Arabia (Jamal Khashoggi) into their embassy in Turkey, and had him cut to pieces.
It would be very much Saudi Standard Operating Procedure for them to fund the Egyptians to destroy their common enemy. The last thing the Saudis would want, is for the Brotherhood to gain control of a safe base of operations in Libya, with a steady flow of oil revenue to sustain them. They are an existential threat to the Saudi Royal family.
Agree !
But can they do it & have it be more then an indifferent armed mob fighting a more poorly armed but maybe motivated armed mob. All stretched over a supply line from Egypt through (or as deep as they want go !) Libya. Libya’s not small.
I don’t remember reading anything about Egyptian performance in Yemen. That makes me think it was poor.
“...Turkey might well escalate again in response to the Egyptian Army entering Libya. If those two end up in direct conflict, it could be a major war....”
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It wouldn’t be much of a “major” war. Turkey is incapable of projecting sufficient military power for any significant length of time.
Thank you for the info. I know he is under pressure because of his own actions. His Jihadi’s are animals. His ambitions match them.
His Neo Ottoman delusions of grandeur will eventually consume him.
His popularity in the Middle East is in narrow avenues.
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