Prosecutors urged to examine French role in Egyptian airstrikes on civilians

NGOs want investigation into border counter-terrorism operation that allegedly ended up bombing suspected smugglers

Two international NGOs have asked French prosecutors and the UN to investigate the French state's involvement in Egypt allegedly committing crimes against humanity in a secret military operation on the Egyptian-Libyan border.

A 2021 leak appeared to show how French officers complained they were being asked to facilitate Egyptian airstrikes, codenamed Operation Sirli, on the Egyptian-Libyan border, even though the original counter-terrorism purpose had been subverted by the Egyptian military into taking out vehicles containing nothing more than contraband. Dozens are estimated to have been killed or injured.