Several Egyptian media outlets described the Tuesday visit of the Egyptian Intelligence chief, General Abbas Kamel, to Libya as “historic,” given its importance for both sides.
Arab and international news websites also paid attention to this visit, which resulted in the extradition of Hesham al-Ashmawi to the Egyptian authorities as part of the anti-terrorism agreement between the two countries.
During the visit, Kamel met with the Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, at the LNA headquarters in al-Rajma, eastern Libya, where they discussed the latest developments in Libya.
Immediately after the arrival of Ashmawi to Cairo, Egyptian media figures praised this Egyptian-Libyan cooperation.
Egyptian columnist Khaled Montaser congratulated Libya and Egypt on this security cooperation, saying: “Congratulations to Egypt … Thank you to the Egyptian Intelligence … Thank you Libyan National Army.”
Prosecutor Marwa Hisham Barakat expressed her joy with the extradition of Ashmawi to face trial in Egypt over several terrorist acts that targeted judicial, military, and civil personnel, most notably her father, late attorney-general Hisham Barakat.
Ashmawi was transferred on board a military aircraft amid intensive security measures at the Cairo International Airport due to the importance of the operation for Libya and Egypt.
Egyptian MP Abdel Rahim Ali said the interrogation of Ashmawi is expected to reveal significant information regarding the funding channels of terrorism in the region.
Moreover, Ali called on the international community to support the LNA in its war against terrorism, which resulted in the arrest of such major terrorist leader.
Haftar has visited Egypt twice since the beginning of his campaign to capture Tripoli, where Libya’s U.N.-recognized Government of National Accord is based, and he is openly supported by Egypt for “fighting against terrorism.”
Libya has remained beset by turmoil since 2011, when long-serving leader Muammar Qaddafi was ousted and killed in an uprising after four decades in power.
Since then, the oil-rich country has seen the emergence of two rival seats of power: one in eastern Libya, with which Haftar is affiliated, and another in Tripoli, which enjoys U.N. recognition.
