On February 12, the Egyptian Arabi 21 news website carried the following report from Tripoli by its correspondent Ala’a Farouk: “Libyan Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh’s confirmation of Egypt’s participation in the upcoming military operations, which will be launched by [Khalifa] Haftar’s forces to storm Darnah City, generated numerous speculations surrounding their significance at this point in time, and whether or not Saleh wanted to implicate Egypt and embarrass Haftar. According to the Egyptian Youm 7 newspaper, Saleh said from Egypt that the military operation to ensure what he referred to as being Darnah’s liberation, will be conducted in full coordination with the Egyptian authorities, adding: “This operation is a priority for Egypt, to prevent the terrorists from escaping the city towards the Egyptian territories” [full interview not yet posted on Youm 7 website].

“For their part, Libyan media outlets had reported the existence of military preparations undertaken by the forces affiliated with retired General Khalifa Haftar to storm and liberate Darnah City (in the Libyan East) from so-called “terrorist groups.” Saleh’s statements were made in parallel to revelations revolving around an unannounced visit recently conducted by Haftar to Egypt, during which he discussed some political and military developments, including the Darnah operation, and received reassurances from Egypt that it will participate and assist him in this operation, as per journalistic reports. At this level, observers believed that “Aguila’s statements aimed to achieve two things: Embarrass Haftar by revealing or confirming his secret plan with Egypt, and implicate Egypt by raising the possibility of the escape of those whom he called terrorist groups from Darnah to its territories.”

“So, the question is: Why did Saleh confirm the existence of an Egyptian role in the upcoming Darnah Operation? And in light of its current security situation, especially in Sinai, can Egypt play such a role? Head of the security file in Darnah, General Yahya Asta Omar, was “surprised by Aguila Saleh’s call for an Egyptian intervention to storm Darnah,” assuring: “This statement contributed to the violation of the state’s sovereignty…” As for Libyan blogger from Darnah Faraj Krikish, he believed that “Aguila Saleh is presenting pre-emptive justifications and thinking out-loud, while relying on the suggestions he is debating with all those involved in the military inability to storm Darnah.” He assured in statements to Arabi 21: “He is trying to generate a social quake in the city, i.e. rebellious movements, displacements, or a pressuring public opinion on the decision-making centres, which have so far been cohesive in Darnah.”

“Likewise, Head of the Democracy and Human Rights Foundation, Emadeddin Muntasser…, said in exclusive statements to Arabi 21 from the American state of Boston: “Through his recent comments on Darnah, Saleh wants to share the responsibility with Egypt by publically implicating in it in the siege imposed on the city, and send a message to the international community saying that the latter siege was part of the strategic interests of Egypt, which enjoys special European and American support...” As for Libyan political analyst Osama Kaabar, he believed that “Egypt is the common denominator between Haftar and Saleh, who are the same at this level. However, they are racing to please the Egyptian command. In that sense, Aguila Saleh’s statements were not in defiance of Haftar, rather aimed to show his loyalty to the Egyptian command…””