French Military Operating in Libya

The French military is coordinating fighting against Islamic State insurgents in Benghazi, Libya, contributing ground forces and intelligence support to the Libyan military. Wanis Bukhamada, a Libyan special forces commander, confirmed a report by France’s Le Monde on French military involvement. “The French military group in Benghazi are just military advisers who provide consultations to the Libyan National Army in its battle against terrorism, but they are not fighting with our Libyan forces,” Bukhamada said. Le Monde reported that the French forces are also working with the United States and Britain in Libya, but the French government did not comment on the report.

The Italian government quietly granted the United States permission last month to launch armed drones from an Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily. The agreement limits the United States to defensive drone operations to protect U.S. personnel in Libya. The United States is reportedly still negotiating to allow offensive missions against Islamic State targets. The new basing arrangement did not facilitate the U.S. strike on an Islamic State militant in Sabratha, Libya, last week — that strike was carried out by “manned American aircraft based in the U.K.,” according to the Wall Street Journal.

Egypt Says Militants Responsible for Metrojet Crash

After months of denials, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said yesterday that “militants” were responsible for the Oct. 31, 2015, crash of a Russian Metrojet flight in the Sinai Peninsula. “Has the confrontation or the terrorism ended? No. Still. But it will end with us all together if we unite. What was the intention of the person who downed the plane? Just to hit tourism? No. Also to hit relations with Russia,” Sisi said. For months, Egyptian investigators have claimed terrorism did not play a role in the crash. Sisi’s comments came in a two-hour speech that seemed to be a response to growing criticism of his government. He also said the Egyptian military had committed “excesses” in fighting terrorist groups and at times seemed to threaten freedom of expression, telling his audience not to listen to sources of information other than himself.

Headlines

• The European Parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling for an arms embargo against Saudi Arabia in response to the Saudi military’s bombardment of civilian targets in Yemen, despite lobbying efforts by Saudi diplomats in Europe.

• Baquer Namazi, the 80-year-old father of detained U.S.-Iranian businessman Siamak Namazi, has also been arrested by Iranian authorities, according to Namazi’s lawyer, who told reporters he has not been allowed to meet with his client.

• The World Health Organization’s hiring of Shukria Mekdad, wife of Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, to research the mental health effects of displacement during the Syrian civil war has raised questions about the United Nation’s impartiality in the conflict; “At this point it reflects a degree of tone deafness that is not appropriate,” one public health researcher said.

• Troops from the United Arab Emirates reportedly withdrew from the airport in Aden, Yemen, yesterday after the facility was stormed by “disgruntled pro-government fighters.”

• U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura is expected to announce tomorrow the start date for a new round of talks between the parties to the Syrian civil war, following on inconclusive talks that ended Feb. 3.

Arguments and Analysis

“The Long Shadow of the Gulf War” (Rebecca Friedman Lissner, War on the Rocks)

“In part, the gap between the United States and other major powers was allowed to narrow because of the United States’ persistent preoccupation with Iraq — a Gulf War legacy that the United States would do well to deemphasize going forward. Two and a half decades after the war’s end, Iraq remains a dominant focus of U.S. foreign policy. Even as the Obama administration sought to diminish U.S. involvement in Iraq, the rise of the Islamic State prompted military re-engagement. While Iraq surely has intrinsic strategic importance, it would be difficult to argue that its bearing on the U.S. national interest justifies the enormous cost that the United States has incurred — in blood and treasure, to be sure, but also in the opportunity cost associated with turning American focus away from prospective great-power rivals.”

“Cracks in Saudi-Egyptian relations: an opportunity for others to step in?” (Middle East Strategic Perspectives)

“Saudi-Egyptian partnership was a necessity for the regimes in both countries, in a certain context, at a certain point in time. While Riyadh and Cairo still enjoy special relations, they no longer see eye to eye on a number of subjects. Mired in its own difficulties, this could lead Riyadh to reassess its enthusiastic support for Cairo. This could affect Egypt’s energy sector, and the economy as a whole. For instance, Cairo has relied on Gulf largesse to repay its debt to foreign companies, a ‘pre-condition’ that allowed Egypt’s latest energy recovery. Although Egypt has regained a certain political stability, the security situation remains tense, and economic growth is struggling to keep up with expectations. Economic performance, in large part reflecting the performance of the energy sector, will contribute to either weakening or strengthening the regime’s legitimacy among Egyptians. For various reasons, Egypt fears Gulf partners — Saudis in particular — may reduce financial support, with possible (unintended) repercussions that could affect the country’s stability. Should this happen, other partners, who have a direct interest in maintaining stability in Egypt and containing the propagation of the Libyan conflict, may find the timing is right to step in and offer support.”

-J. Dana Stuster

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