Egypt calls for UN-backed intervention against IS jihadists in Libya

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sisi has called for the UN Security Council to mandate an international intervention in Libya. He told French radio: “There is no other choice, taking into account the agreement of the Libyan people and government and that they call on us to act.” On Monday, Egypt bombed Islamic State targets in Libya - after a video was released which showed the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians by militants connected to the terror group. Mr al Sisi also described the Libyan war of 2011 - where an international coalition including the UK supported the forces which deposed Muammar Gaddafi - as “an unfinished mission”.

[Islamic State] were acting in Iraq and Syria, and now they are showing a jump into the Mediterranean and sending a message to Arab and non-Arab countries that the threat is knocking at their doors.

Former secretary-general of the Arab League, Amr Moussa

Urging for arms to be sent to Libya’s internationally-recognised government in Tobruk, the president claimed: “We abandoned the Libyan people as prisoners to extremist militias. We will not allow them to cut off the heads of our children.” Speaking following the retaliatory attack, Egypt’s ambassador to the UK claimed there’d been a collective failure to “snuff out” the organisation. Nasser Kamel also warned the threat is “coming closer to Europe” as Islamic State, which has historically been active in Iraq and Syria, moves to Libya. Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians remain in Libya and their foreign ministry has encouraged them to leave as soon as possible.

That is why we have to stand firm - all of us - in the Mediterranean Basin against such an organisation.

Amr Moussa

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