Meanwhile, in North Africa, after the Mossad backed and armed Libya’s renegade commander Khalifa Haftar, foreign sources say Israel is taking a more balanced position towards the internationally recognized government in Tripoli
Ankara deployed a few hundred troops and an estimated 3,500-3,800 Syrian mercenaries over the first quarter of the year, according to a Pentagon report released last week
The accusation comes as rival Libyan factions — backed by different foreign powers pouring weapons and fighters into the country — prepare to face off over the strategic coastal city of Sirte
Egypt and Turkey are the main rivals fighting for control in the North African country, but the conflict is also where the strategic interests of Arab countries, the EU, and Russia clash – as the U.S. watches from the sidelines
Move comes shortly after the Egyptian presidency said Sissi had agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump to maintain a ceasefire in Libya and avoid any escalation
Egyptian lawmakers are reportedly expected to vote on whether to authorize the president to deploy troops to neighboring Libya, which could pit Egypt and Turkey in a direct confrontation
Egypt's state-run al-Ahram daily reported on Sunday that the vote in Parliament was intended to mandate el-Sissi to 'intervene militarily in Libya to help defend the western neighbor against Turkish aggression'
The report comes as the conflict in oil-rich Libya has escalated into a regional proxy war fueled by foreign powers pouring weapons and mercenaries into the country
There was no immediate comment from Russia or the Wagner Group, a Kremlin-backed private security company that has been implicated in the conflict in the North African country
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has already warned the army might enter Libya if the GNA and its Turkish allies renew an assault on Sirte, a central coastal city
UN Secretary General warns of foreign interference in the country's conflict at 'unprecedented levels'
Thousands of refugees and migrants are held in about 20 official detention facilities in Libya, some controlled by armed groups
Earlier this month, Egypt called for a ceasefire in Libya as part of an initiative which also proposed an elected leadership council for the country
At least 14 MiG-29s and several Su-24s were flown to Libya via Syria, where their Russian markings had been painted over, AFRICOM said in May
A more permanent air and naval presence in Libya could reinforce Turkey's growing influence in the region, including in Syria, and boost its claims to offshore oil and gas resources
Trump also discussed Libya with Egypt's Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday, and the two leaders discussed ways to resume UN ceasefire talks
The Tripoli forces retook major parts of the capital last week, forcing Haftar's fighters to withdraw in the latest blow in a series of losses in the western part of the country
With few opportunities at home and years of experience, Syrian fighters find new battleground on both sides of the conflict in Libya
Step one of the initiative is a cease-fire starting Monday, President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi said
The United States in late May accused Russia of deploying fighter aircraft via Syria to Libya to support Russian mercenaries fighting there
The announcement marks another defeat for the east-based Libyan Arab Armed Forces, led by commander Khalifa Hifter who has recently lost several strategic spots in western Libya
Turkey began providing military support to Fayez al Serraj's Government of National Accord (GNA) in November after signing a military cooperation pact
Backed by the UAE, Russia and Egypt with arms, mercenaries and air strikes, the Libyan National Army had last summer advanced into Tripoli's southern suburbs before his offensive stalled
Trump wants to keep out of foreign entanglements and there seems little prospect of a more active U.S. role in Libya for now
Russian private military contractor Wagner Group has up to 1,200 people deployed in Libya, strengthening Haftar's forces, according to a confidential United Nations report
Turkey backs Libya's internationally recognized government, whose forces' recent surge has put pressure on Russia-backed rival commander
The advance serves a major blow to Khalifa Haftar's forces, backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Russia, who launched an offensive to capture Tripoli in April 2019
Washington expresses worries over Libyan rebel leader Haftar reportedly looking to open diplomatic relations with Assad
Transport Ministry, blaming Haftar's eastern-based forces, says a damaged plane was preparing to fly to Spain to retrieve Libyans stranded amid coronavirus lockdown
Haftar's forces are backed by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, and have also had help from Russian mercenaries