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By Libya Herald reporters.
Tunis, 22 October 2017:
The House of Representatives (HoR) yesterday joined the United Nations and European Union in sending Cairo its condolences for the heavy loss of life when Egyptian security forces were ambushed while attacking a suspected terrorist base in the west of the country.
“The Parliament of Libya and the Libyan nation affirm their solidarity with Egypt in its war against terrorism and extremism,” said a statement from the parliament, which added that both countries were engaged in the same battle against the terrorists.
At least 54 officers and men were killed in Friday’s clash in Giza province 135 kilometres south-west of Cairo.
Egypt has long been concerned at the entry of terrorists from Libya and has said that it had attacked and destroyed a number of suspect convoys This May, in an airborne chase lasting two days, Egyptian jets strafed 15 vehicles which were said to be carrying arms from Libya. A month later the air force said it had destroyed a 12-vehicle convoy bringing arms and ammunition into Egypt.
The challenge for Egyptian commanders is that the border has always been penetrated by commercial smugglers and more recently by gangs transporting Egyptian workers into Libya along with Syrian, Iraqi, Pakistani and Afghan migrants hoping to head to Europe via the Libyan coast.
