Egypt looks to roll back Islamist militias in Libya

Ayah Aman

Dec 12, 2014

Fighters from the Benghazi Shura Council, which includes former rebels and militants from al Qaeda-linked Ansar al-Sharia, gesture on top of a tank next to the camp of the special forces in Benghazi July 30, 2014. On Wednesday, the eastern city of Benghazi was quieter after Islamist fighters and allied militia forces overran a special forces army base in the city in a major blow to a military campaign against Islamist militants there. The self-declared Benghazi Shura Council forces took over the base on Tue — Fighters from the Benghazi Shura Council, which includes former rebels and militants from al-Qaeda-linked Ansar al-Sharia, gesture atop a tank next to the camp of the special forces in Benghazi, July 30, 2014. — REUTERS

CAIRO — Egypt has been taking diplomatic steps to settle the armed conflict in Libya, but in the meantime, the Libyan national army has been fighting with political, military and logistical support from Cairo to regain gradual control of Benghazi from Islamist militias.

An Egyptian diplomatic source involved in Libyan affairs told Al-Monitor, “We are working with local and foreign parties to put the Islamist militias and Muslim Brotherhood in Benghazi and Tripoli under siege.”