Egypt Invades Libya in 1977

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libyan–Egyptian_War

So, after Egypt and Israel began working towards peace in the aftermath of the Yom Kippur War, Qaddafi in Libya turned hostile against Egypt and eventually conflict due to a border disagreement, among other aggravations, broke out.

According to this article, Sadat was planning an invasion to topple Qaddafi, but at the behest of the other Arab nations, he did not.

But what if he did? Suppose Egyptian forces captured Ben Ghazi, and marched towards Tripoli. Then what? Would Algeria let its ally fall? They both followed a similar anti-Moroccan and pro-Sahara independence policy, and generally got along well. That, and the socialist Arab states of Iraq, Syria and the two Yemens would likely support socialist Libya, and even sell them weapons (Libya and Syria sold Iran missiles in its war against Iraq).

I think while a combined Algerian-Libyan army could block the Egyptian advance, they would not fair well against its air force and hence won't push forward. Egypt was already suffering from Islamist unrest, such as the one that killed Sadat. I wonder if that would be postponed, advanced, or cancelled. Same with the Israeli peace.
 

yourworstnightmare

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Well, Egypt was still not seen as a pariah by other Arab nations, so I don't think Gadaffi would find much support. If this happen after 1979 however...

Also: Egypt was a Socialist state too.
 
I think while a combined Algerian-Libyan army could block the Egyptian advance, they would not fair well against its air force and hence won't push forward.
The Algerian army is not going to be much use to the Libyans for the first half of the war because it is on the wrong side of the country. The only consolation it has is that it is out of Egyptian bomber range, at least until they can be deployed in ex Libyan air bases. Even then the two countries won't co-operate very well because the smart money says that the Colonel will insist in being directing the war and he is no Napoleon.
 
Egypt, assuming the operation went as planned, would have cemented its place as King of Arab Street. The real interesting factor here for me is trying to figure out who would then take over ruling Libya.
 

yourworstnightmare

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Egypt, assuming the operation went as planned, would have cemented its place as King of Arab Street. The real interesting factor here for me is trying to figure out who would then take over ruling Libya.
And still lose that position two years later if Camp Davis happen as OTL...
 
And still lose that position two years later if Camp Davis happen as OTL...

Even with said accords, it's hard to suggest that Egypt really lost it in our timeline. Syria's reach only extends to neighboring states, Saudi influence exists primarily among Muslim populations outside of the Arab world. Iraq is still a basketcase politically until atleast the war with Iran, if that isn't butterflied away. So who's left, realistically?
 
Egypt was socialist, but Sadat was already opening up and turning more and more pro-Western as peace with Israel and an alliance with America seemed increasingly a reality.

I think Egypt would likely capture Cyrenaica but be stopped right as it gains parts of Tripolitania. It's interesting to note that Libyans back then seemed to be pro-government, even on the Egyptian/Benghazi side of Cyrenaica. I think Libyans might rise up against a prolonged Egyptian occupation, and force them out.
 
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