Egypt prepared to 'go it alone' in Libya

Egypt is willing to go it alone in military action against suspected Islamic State group targets in Libya, government sources have indicated to al-Araby al-Jadeed.

The Egyptian air force attacks targets in the Libyan city of Sirte earlier this week after IS sympathisers murdered 21 Egyptian Copts it had abducted. 

Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, has called on the UN to form a coalition, but sources in the government said the country was prepared to go it alone if no one else helped.

"The idea of forming a military coalition is on Egypt's list of potential scenarios, but it is certainly not the only option. Egypt's first choice of action was, and remains, to ensure that the country can, solely, practise its right to self-defence and safeguard its borders," the source said.

"Egypt is aware that forming a military coalition is not a simple task... the coalition as suggested by Sisi does not conflict with the political solution and may assist to ensure that it is carried through."

While a Western coalition looks unlikely, Egypt is said to be looking into the formation of an Arab alliance.

"Egypt and Jordan have begun extensive efforts in this regard, the fruits of which will be revealed within few days," the source said.

Jordan has not commented on the statement.

Egypt is aware that forming a military coalition is not a simple task...

Cairo claims that its airstrikes in Libya are within the boundaries of international law, and have the support of Libya's Tobruk government, headed by Adullah al-Thani.

The US, UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain issued a joint statement in Rome condemning the murders of the Copts and urged a political resolution to the crisis in Libya, but distanced themselves from military action.

This week, Italy and France have both spoken about the dangers of IS militias operating on the doorstep to Europe, and the potential for extremists to infiltrate the continent from Libya. Italy's interior minister, Angelino Alfano, called on Nato to intervene.

Libya has descended into chaos since the fall of Muammar Gadaffi in 2011.

Rival parliaments in Tobruk and Tripoli claim to represent the country, although fighting is being carried out by a matrix of militias, often tribal or extremist in their makeup.

Al-Qaeda and IS-linked militants are said to be operating in Libya's eastern regions.

This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.