Keeping Turkey Out of Libya? Egyptian President El Sisi Orders Air Force to Prepare For Missions Beyond Borders

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi ordered the Egyptian Air Force on June 20th the prepare to conduct operations beyond the country's borders. The orders came amid an intensifying conflict in neighbouring Libya in which the Egyptian backed Libyan National Army (LNA) has suffered multiple defeats at the hands of the Turkish and Western supported Government of National Accord (GNA). While the LNA has recently received considerable reinforcements, with the United Arab Emirates reportedly hiring Russian military contractors and providing them with advanced hardware including MiG-29 and Su-24 fighters, the GNA has threatened to recapture the LNA stronghold of Sirte which has been laid to siege with Turkish support. Egypt has intervened militarily in Libya in the past to carry out airstrikes on jihadist militant groups in the country.

Addressing Egyptian airmen, the president was quoted by local media as having stated: “I am happy that I am meeting you today and am reassured by you on the efficiency, technical and combat status of the armed forces… Be prepared to carry out any mission within our borders, or if necessary outside our borders.” Libya has been in a state of civiil war ever since a European-led military intervention devastated the country’s infrastructure and toppled the Arab Jamhariya government of long-standing leader Muammar Gaddafi with the help of islamist militant groups. Loyalists from the Gaddafi era have since sided with the Egyptian-backed LNA, while islamist groups have formed the bulk of the GNA’s militias. Turkish military intervention has played a significant role in shaping the conflict, with Turkish backed jihadist militants from Syria deploying to the country alongside Turkish officers to bolster the GNA. Turkish operated drones have also taken a heavy toll on LNA forces, although the deployment of Russian built fighter jets could undermine their current dominance of the air. The Egyptian Air Force’s combat fleet is mostly comprised of antiquated second and fourth generation designs, with the F-16s which form its backbone denied access to modern munition types for either air to air or air to ground roles due to political restrictions placed by the United States. This seriously limits their potential. Under El Sisi’s presidency the Air Force has received much more modern types of aircraft and standoff missiles including Mig-29M and Rafale medium fighters. Egypt is also soon set to receive Su-35 heavyweight air superiority fighters which will form the elite of its combat fleet.