Official says two countries and Saudi Arabia have been supporting a renegade general’s effort for months against Libyan militant groups
Egypt and the United Arab Emirates secretly carried out airstrikes against Islamist militias inside Libya, US officials said Tuesday, decrying the intervention as an escalation of the North African country’s already debilitating turmoil. They said the United States had no prior notification of the attacks.
One official said the two countries and Saudi Arabia have been supporting a renegade general’s effort for months against Libyan militant groups, but that the Saudis don’t appear to have played a role in recent strikes. Another official said Washington knew about Egyptian and UAE plans for a possible operation and warned them against going through with the effort.
The officials weren’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity. The Egyptian and UAE role in the strikes was first reported by The New York Times.
In a joint statement, the United States joined with Britain, France, Germany and Italy in expressing its concerns, saying “”outside interference in Libya exacerbates current divisions and undermines Libya’s democratic transition.”
A US official said the intervention wasn’t done with authorization from Libya’s government.
And the newly appointed UN envoy to Libya said he doesn’t believe foreign intervention is helpful. The diplomat, Bernardino Leon, said only an inclusive political process with all Libyans represented in parliament, government and other state institutions will end the instability gripping the country more than three years after the uprising that toppled dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
“Any kind of intervention or foreign intervention won’t help Libya get out of chaos,” Leon said.
American officials have not attributed the strikes to any country publicly. Egypt has repeatedly denied involvement. Emirati officials have not commented.
Islamist militias in Libya have made similar allegations against Egypt and the UAE following two days of mysterious airstrikes against Islamist-allied militia positions in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, since Aug. 18.
