President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said on Thursday that Egypt would not stand by if any action in neighbouring Libya posed a threat to his country’s national security.
Addressing scores of tribal leaders and dignitaries from Libya, Mr El Sisi said his country’s military could “swiftly and decisively” change the situation in Libya.
The Libyan National Army led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar is locked in a conflict against Turkish-backed forces and mercenaries fighting for the Government of National Accord in Tripoli.
Libya’s rival government, the House of Representatives in the east, voted this week to invite the Egyptian military to intervene in if Cairo saw a threat to the security of both nations.
Mr El Sisi on Thursday said he would also have to secure the approval of the Egyptian Parliament before his forces could enter Libya.
But approval was a foregone conclusion because the chamber is packed with his supporters and has already condemned Turkey’s intervention in Libya in the strongest terms.
It is the second time in less than a month that Mr El Sisi has spoken about the possibility of military intervention in Libya.
Last month, he said Egypt considered the coastal city of Sirte and the oasis town of Jufra to the south as a “red line”.
“We will not go into Libya unless you ask us to and we will leave when you order us to,” Mr El Sisi told the tribal leaders.
Tension has been rising in Libya and the region over Turkey’s military involvement there.
Turkey’s support for the GNA reversed a 15-month assault on Tripoli by forces loyal to Field Marshal Haftar.
Also last month, Egypt called for a ceasefire in Libya as part of an initiative that proposed an elected leadership council.
On Thursday, Mr El Sisi said Egyptian forces would go into Libya with tribal forces at the forefront and under the Libyan flag.
“The declaration of the Sirte-Jufra line as a red line is essentially a call for peace and an end to the conflict in Libya,” said Mr El Sisi, who was repeatedly interrupted by applause from the Libyan tribesmen.
“Egypt would not stand by and watch in the face of any movements that pose a strong and direct threat not just to Egypt’s and Libya’s national security, but those of the Arab world, the region and the world.”
He said Egypt did not want to enshrine the west-east divide but to work for a unified and stable Libya.
Egypt has been alarmed by events in Libya since a popular uprising in 2011 toppled and killed longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi.
The energy-rich nation has since plunged into chaos with the rival administrations vying for dominance.
Egypt has blamed militants operating out of Libya for a string of deadly attacks in recent years against minority Christians and members of its security forces.
There have been no such attacks in the past two years as Cairo tightened its defences along its porous desert border.
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A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
Cricket World Cup League Two
Teams
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
Fixtures
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Oman
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre V6
Power: 295hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
Price: Dh179,999-plus
On sale: now
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PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
Company%20profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Tuesday (UAE kick-off times)
Leicester City v Brighton (9pm)
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United (11.15pm)
Wednesday
Manchester United v Sheffield United (9pm)
Newcastle United v Aston Villa (9pm)
Norwich City v Everton (9pm)
Wolves v Bournemouth (9pm)
Liverpool v Crystal Palace (11.15pm)
Thursday
Burnley v Watford (9pm)
Southampton v Arsenal (9pm)
Chelsea v Manchester City (11.15pm)