Egypt and UAE strike Islamist militias in Libya

[Zarvan]

@JUBA They have around 80 Block 52 right now and 30 Block 60 are on order

 

[syedali73]

When the US was Spying on the USSR, the USAF's U-2 were stationed in Pakistan for a very long time.
It makes no sense to fly jets from UAE to Libya and back. The Pilot fatigue will jeopardize the performance of the mission. Egypt has a border with Libya, so its much easier to carry out these strikes.

The distance between the US and intended sites of spying in the USSR was far greater than the distance between UAE and Libya. Then it was a program that continue for quite some time hence logical to station U-2s closer to the USSR borders. It depends, for instance US B-2 bombers generally (sometimes from Diego Garcia) fly from the Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri all the way to the intended target (as in the case of Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq campeings), and fly back. It is therefore possible that UAE's fighter/bombers are stationed in Egypt, and also that they flew all the way to Libya, and landed back in UAE. They would of course have refueled mid-air.

 

[Frogman]

I would not rely solely on unnamed US sources, any foreign forces (even from a sisterly nation) based or operating out of Egyptian bases is something completely alien, the Egyptian Armed Forces has routinely stated it will not allow foreign forces or bases in its territory as it is a breach of national sovereignty. With Egypt denying involvement and the UAE silent (it has not been involved in the Libyan crisis since 2011) who and how remains a mystery, the best we can do is make educated guesses.

 

[Oldman1]

I would not rely solely on unnamed US sources, any foreign forces (even from a sisterly nation) based or operating out of Egyptian bases is something completely alien, the Egyptian Armed Forces has routinely stated it will not allow foreign forces or bases in its territory as it is a breach of national sovereignty. With Egypt denying involvement and the UAE silent (it has not been involved in the Libyan crisis since 2011) who and how remains a mystery, the best we can do is make educated guesses.

Not unless its under the guise of exercises which Egypt has allowed foreign forces on it soil. The U.S. govt. has no reason to name Egypt and UAE as perpetrators of the bombings unless they are really confident in its intel. And I'm not surprised Egypt would deny it because of the consequences of retaliation. Same for UAE. But as you said, its speculation.

 

[Frogman]

Not unless its under the guise of exercises which Egypt has allowed foreign forces on it soil. The U.S. govt. has no reason to name Egypt and UAE as perpetrators of the bombings unless they are really confident in its intel. And I'm not surprised Egypt would deny it because of the consequences of retaliation. Same for UAE. But as you said, its speculation.

All military exercises including foreign forces on Egyptian soil are publicly declared. The US government has not officially stated Egypt or UAE as the perpetrators, only unnamed sources, which should always be taken with a pinch of salt. Since the US was not consulted I find it hard to believe they can confidently tell who actually struck Libya, my guess is that they are also making educated guesses.

Egypt need not be worried by retaliation, the conflict has already reached our western borders resulting in the death of border guards, Ansar Alsharia claimed to be the perpetrators of the most serious attack.

 

[Oldman1]

All military exercises including foreign forces on Egyptian soil are publicly declared. The US government has not officially stated Egypt or UAE as the perpetrators, only unnamed sources, which should always be taken with a pinch of salt. Since the US was not consulted I find it hard to believe they can confidently tell who actually struck Libya, my guess is that they are also making educated guesses.

Egypt need not be worried by retaliation, the conflict has already reached our western borders resulting in the death of border guards, Ansar Alsharia claimed to be the perpetrators of the most serious attack.

Considering that the U.S. military have forces in the ME and is currently bombing the ISIS in Iraq, I'm certain they would also be watching whats going on in Libya even if not consulted.

 

[Frogman]

Considering that the U.S. military have forces in the ME and is currently bombing the ISIS in Iraq, I'm certain they would also be watching whats going on in Libya even if not consulted.

They haven't really shown an appetite for involvement in Libya since Benghazi and the subsequent fallout. Although, they have carried out one or two SF raids to capture people as part of the global war on terror operation, however, they seem to be relying
on Algeria, Egypt, and, Tunisia to at least contain the situation in Libya at least.

 

[Falcon29]

I would not rely solely on unnamed US sources, any foreign forces (even from a sisterly nation) based or operating out of Egyptian bases is something completely alien, the Egyptian Armed Forces has routinely stated it will not allow foreign forces or bases in its territory as it is a breach of national sovereignty. With Egypt denying involvement and the UAE silent (it has not been involved in the Libyan crisis since 2011) who and how remains a mystery, the best we can do is make educated guesses.

Why do you make it sound like the world will flip upside down if Egypt/UAE claim responsibility? Relax, everyone knows who was behind it and it is common to see air strikes in this region. Nothing will change.

 

[Ceylal]

Saudis ain't involved in this. Its UAE getting over confident.

Please...They have the goods, but no experience. And if they did, Israel would have detected them and went for intercept, and if Israel missed them, One of those american bases in the GCC or the one on Egypt would have been aware of it.

they seem to be relying on Algeria, Egypt, and, Tunisia to at least contain the situation in Libya at least.

In fact that is the case. The conference of Hammamet , in Tunisia defined the role of each participants thas a border with Libya. Algeria and Egypt were given the security and political side to stabilize Libya. None of those attendees wants the involvement of the US or NATO. Algeria conducted both raids.

 

[Ceylal]

When you have 80 Block 52 you will be confident

Kaddafy was confident too...Conducting raids at 2800 miles away from its is not an easy task, no matter how sophisticated your equipments are, it need planning, coordination, refueling, evading radars...etc..

 

[Frogman]

Why do you make it sound like the world will flip upside down if Egypt/UAE claim responsibility? Relax, everyone knows who was behind it and it is common to see air strikes in this region. Nothing will change.

I'm not. I'm simply stating that the US doesn't actually know who carried out the attack or how the attack was carried out and is relying on reports rather than any solid evidence or intelligence. The Libyan government has already welcomed the role of neighbouring nations and called for international assistance, there wouldn't be any significant political blowback if the nations involved said they were or are responsible.

In fact that is the case. The conference of Hammamet , in Tunisia defined the role of each participants thas a border with Libya. Algeria and Egypt were given the security and political side to stabilize Libya. None of those attendees wants the involvement of the US or NATO. Algeria conducted both raids.

I know I was just explaining to the other guy what's going on.

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U.S. backs off statement that Egypt, UAE were behind Libya air strikes
WASHINGTON Tue Aug 26, 2014 10:15pm EDT

(Reuters) - The U.S. State Department on Tuesday backed off an earlier statement that Egypt and the United Arab Emirates were behind air strikes on Islamist militants in Libya.

At a regular State Department briefing, spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: "We understand there were air strikes undertaken in recent days by the UAE and Egypt" in Libya.

At the Pentagon, spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby also said the two countries were believed to be involved in the strikes but declined to give details.

However, late on Tuesday the State Department issued a statement saying the comment on Libya was "intended to refer to countries reportedly involved, not speak for them."

U.S. backs off statement that Egypt, UAE were behind Libya air strikes| Reuters

 

[Thəorətic Muslim]

Algeria conducted both raids.

I'm simply stating that the US doesn't actually know who carried out the attack or how the attack was carried out and is relying on reports rather than any solid evidence or intelligence.

It's not that simple to just take countries out of the equation. All of Libya's neighbors have a role to play in stabilizing the country, but there are greater ramifications. If Islamists begin to erode the power of the moderate Libyan Transitional Government, something Algeria, Egypt, and the Gulf States don't want, it will begin to look bad as they have openly resisted any change to their status quo.

Libya is filled with rival factions each in open warfare. If one faction begins to slowly gain power and stabilize the area under it's control the people will begin to support that faction. ie, Taliban.

The US doesn't know who carried out the raids, but will piece together the Intelligence. American Warplanes can't and don't just disappear from their airfields without the US knowing about it.

UAE is an extension of the Gulf Cooperative Council, it wouldn't take any operation without the consent/ nod from the Saudis, also you can't hide military operations of this scale which would require transnational approval to fly over the airspace of foreign nations without being engaged. It's only a matter of time before some Newspaper Editor decides to make it public, until then those in the Foreign Ministry/ Intel/ Military community already know who's behind the raids.

 

[Mosamania]

Oh those pesky Gulf Arabs are not doing anything to fight terrorist with their state of the art equipment (Gulf Arabs do something), Oh those pesky Gulf Arabs are bombing fellow Muslims, those evil Wahhabism dogs must die.

The cycle of PDF everyone.

 

[1000]

Oh those pesky Gulf Arabs are not doing anything to fight terrorist with their state of the art equipment (Gulf Arabs do something), Oh those pesky Gulf Arabs are bombing fellow Muslims, those evil Wahhabism dogs must die.

The cycle of PDF everyone.

Jordan and some Gulf Arab states took part in removing Gaddafi, one would expect they don't leave it in ruins and in terror of Al Qaeda.

 

[Ceylal]

Oh those pesky Gulf Arabs are not doing anything to fight terrorist with their state of the art equipment (Gulf Arabs do something), Oh those pesky Gulf Arabs are bombing fellow Muslims, those evil Wahhabism dogs must die.

The cycle of PDF everyone.

You said it, they are pesky...worse than the chikungunya