US claims UAE and Egypt responsible for airstrikes on Libya

26 August 2014

Anonymous US officials tell news agencies that the UAE and Egypt secretly bombed Libyan militias

The UAE and Egypt are responsible for recent airstrikes against Libya, according to senior US officials that spoke to the New York Times and the news agency AFP.

The officials said the US was surprised by the military action from the two countries, which acted without informing Washington of their operations.

Over the past two weeks there have been several rounds of air strikes against Libyan armed groups linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, with the first taking place on Monday 18 August.

The revelation that Egypt and the UAE are responsible for the attacks is likely to escalate hostilities in the region.

Countries such as Qatar and Turkey are largely supportive of the Muslim Brotherhood, while Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE are currently engaged in a crackdown on the organisation.

It’s thought the strikes will also put a strain on relations between the US and the UAE.

“We don’t see this as constructive at all,” said one senior US official speaking to the New York Times.

While the strikes were accurate, they have proved ineffective in stopping Islamist-led Libya Shield forces from making military gains.

On 23 August, the forces seized control of Tripoli International airport after more than a month of fighting with rival militias from the mountain town of Zintan.

The UAE provided the pilots, warplanes and aerial refuelling planes, while Egypt provided the bases from which to launch the attacks, according to the officials that spoke to the New York Times.

Egypt has denied conducting air strikes or other military operations in Libya.

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