Egypt gets UN Sec. Council to discuss intervention against ISIL in Libya

World Today

On the urging of Egypt, the United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency session on Wednesday on whether to intervene in Libya after the Egyptian air force bombed Islamic State targets there. CCTV’s Adel EL Mahrouki reported this story from Cairo.

Egypt’s policies toward Libya have, in just a few hours, undergone a huge shift from denying any form of military intervention, to actively engaging with Libyan militant targets.

Egypt remains adamant defending its national security. And it’s not ruling out additional air strikes.

“We are deciding the way and the timing of retaliation to this brutal killing of our own people. So it’s of course up to the political leadership and the military. And it’s in full implementation of the UN charters,” Badr Abdelaaty, an Egyptian foreign ministry spokesperson said.

Egypt’s foreign minister immediately travelled to New York to petition the United Nations, and the Security Council will hold the urgent meeting on Wednesday, but a U.S. veto is likely. The Pentagon has already condemned Egypt’s air strikes. It says more violence in Libya is not the answer.

Egypt, on the other hand, argues that fighting the Islamic State in Iraq, and not in Libya, highlights a double standard.

“We are very upset with that specifically regarding the international coalition against Daeesh, this terrorist group. We are a member state of this coalition and we are waiting for more measures and political support from this coalition. And to also refrain from applying double standards and selectivity,” Abdelaaty said.

Egypt is bracing for more trouble out of Libya. Troop deployment have been boosted at the borders. Additional forces have also been stationed across the country. With its strikes on militants in Libya, Egypt has launched a vigorous political campaign as it attempts to convince the international community that Islamic State’s threat in Libya is as grave as in Iraq and Syria.

Story compiled with information from CCTV America and Reuters reports.