Egypt's army destroys 10 vehicles loaded with weapons near Libya border

Egypt's air forces destroyed 10 vehicles laden with smuggled weapons and ammunition on the country's western border with Libya, military spokesman said on Wednesday.

The move comes as part of the continued efforts by the air forces in cooperation with the border guard to secure the country's borders at all directions and to thwart cross-border infiltration and smuggling attempts, the statement read, Xinhua news agency reported.

Since May, the Egyptian air force has destroyed more than 100 vehicles loaded with arms while attempting to cross the Egyptian-Libyan border.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi recently said that Egypt destroyed 1,200 vehicles loaded with arms, ammunition and fighters at borders with Libya over the past 30 months.

Egypt is concerned about its 1,200 km western border with eastern Libya that has been a smuggling destination of arms and militants over the past few years.

The country has been working with Libya's neighbouring states to reach a political settlement in Libya, which is torn by a civil war and run by two rival administrations, one in the capital Tripoli northwestern the country and the other in Tobruk city in the northeast.

Egypt sees Libya's stability necessary for maintaining its own national security, secure its western border and uproot the cross-border terrorism.

--IANS

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