Egypt's Abdel Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil al-Sisi, president and former head of military intelligence, has embarked on a bombing campaign in Libya both from the air and on the ground, to avenge the killing of 21 Coptic Christians and other Egyptians killed in December and January at the hands of ISIS.
The Libyan army is now locked in the triangle between the capital and the Algerian border, surrounded by the militia of the Amazigh, the Berbers, with a small band of Tuareg militants, who also held a part of the eastern Fezzan.
All while ISIS is focused on the Libyan coast, with the intent to capture Benghazi and Derna as well as other coastal cities.
The objectives of militants in Libya, the Fajr Libya, are to maintain current alliances while uniting the Muslim Brotherhood with some of the local jihadist movements not yet integrated with ISIS.
The armies of Khalifa Haftar, the "Libyan army, " are pro-Egyptian and, in principle, friend of the U.S. and EU.
There are many other militant groups and all are creating instability in the region.
ISIS cannot afford open combat with Haftar militias, which are well-armed and remain on the coast. A consequence of the warring factions has been excessive migration of populations to the Italian coasts.
Italy has borne the brunt of the immigration storm. But Italy is dealing with its own turmoil, and cannot handle the immigration burden.
What should be done?
We must create an alliance between political and even military factions of Europe and those who are against the jihadists. And NATO and the United Nations should coordinate as well.
Egypt's request for multilateral action by the U.N. in Libya was correct and necessary. It would be useful if Rome aligned with Algiers and Tunis, as well as with Egypt, to coordinate militarily in Libya.
Israel's willingness to lend a hand to Cairo should not be ignored.
The U.N. Security Council resolution in August 2014, condemns the increase in violence in Libya, condemns the use of violence against civilians, and asks the National Council to operate in a spirit of "inclusiveness."
A political-military agreement between Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia is needed to close gaps and produce a united front against the Libyan jihad.
Giancarlo Elia Valori is professor of economics and international politics at Peking University. He is also president of "La Centrale Finanziaria Generale Spa."
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