RIGHT SPEAK: Egypt Now Fighting ISIS On Two Fronts

President Sisi launched airstrikes against militants in Libya, Egypt was already battling an IS affiliate in the Sinai. The two fronts may overextend Egypt's military.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government is positioning itself as a key member in the anti-Islamic State coalition, and the popular strongman appears to have domestic backing to take things up a notch.

Egyptian military helicopters fly over the eastern Sinai
Peninsula

Yet at the same time the government is signaling that its abilities are limited, and is asking Western powers for support.

Mr. Sisi is already fighting Islamist-inspired militants at home, including an Islamic State (IS) affiliate in the eastern Sinai Peninsula. Now, with its first confirmed airstrike against IS forces in Libya, Egypt is engaging on its western flank.

The question is whether, and for how long, the Egyptian military can, on two fronts, engage with an IS threat that seems only to be expanding.

Al-Sisi is appealing to the US-led Coalition to include Libya in it's War against ISIS:

But now Egypt is appealing for the US-led coalition against IS to turn its attention to Libya. In a statement issued Monday, using an Arab acronym for IS, the Foreign Ministry said “Egypt renews its call for the international coalition against the Da’esh terrorist organization ... to take the necessary measures to confront the terrorist Da’esh organization and other similar terrorist organizations on Libyan territories.”

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has embarked on an emergency mission to Washington to demand more support in the fight against IS. And on Monday, Egypt finalized a big ticket weapons deal with France, buying 24 Rafale fighter jets from its European ally.