Egypt sends troops to Idlib as Egypt-Turkey tensions over Libya escalate – AA
Jul 30 2020 Last Updated On: Jul 31 2020 11:05 – ahvalnews:
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Egypt has sent soldiers to Syria’s northwestern Aleppo province, near Idlib, in coordination with Iran, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Thursday, citing military sources.
Some 150 Egyptian soldiers with light weapons have arrived in Aleppo’s rural areas, and some have been deployed in the city of Saraqib to the south of Idlib, it said.
“If this is true, it means that Egypt has started military stockpiling in Idlib,” security expert Metin Gürcan said in a tweet. “As tensions with Egypt in Libya escalate, the conflict gets closer to our border.”
Turkey increased the number of observation points in the rebel-held province to 38, following the death of more than 30 soldiers in a Russia-backed Syrian government offensive in February. Since then, it has deployed air defence systems in Idlib as it continued to increase its military presence in the province.
Egypt and Turkey are backing opposing sides in the ongoing conflict in Libya, with Egypt on the side of Libyan Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army, along with France, Russia and the United Arab Emirates.
Turkey supports Fayez al-Sarraj’s Government of National Accord, recognized by the United Nations, and the military officers, weapons and ammunitions it has sent has helped Sarraj turn the tide in his favour.
Egyptian and Turkish intelligence services have intensified their activities in Libya, as Cairo says it is aware of the smallest details in Libya, and Ankara likening its efforts in the country to counter-insurgency measures in the Ottoman Empire.
ahvalnews.com/turkey-egypt/egypt-sends-troops-idlib-egypt-turkey-tensions-over-libya-escalate-aa
