Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi met mainly eastern Libyan tribesmen on Thursday. Earlier this week, the eastern-based parliament allied to commander Haftar Khalifa called for Egypt to help counter Turkish support for Libya’s internationally recognized government in Tripoli.

Ankara has helped Tripoli force Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) to abandon its offensive on the capital.

Sisi said at the meeting Cairo’s main goal in Libya was to “activate the free will of the Libyan people.” In June, Sisi said Egypt could act militarily either if the House of Representatives requested this, or simply based on the UN charter of a right of self-defense.

Eastern tribes and other factions allied to Haftar have also been involved in closure of oil ports since January. The LNA says the tribes act on their own.

Source: RT