US Sending Egypt 10 Apache Choppers
April 23, 2014The United States is sending Egypt 10 Apache helicopters to Egypt to help counterterrorism efforts, reports the Oman Observer.
US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel called his Egyptian counterpart, Colonel General Sedki Sobhi, and informed him of the decision, according to a statement.
The choppers are to help Egypt’s counterterrorism operations in the Sinai.
Hagel told Sobhi that the US believes the new helicopters “will help the Egyptian government counter extremists who threaten US and Egyptian security,” according to the statement from Pentagon press secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby.
In July 2013, the US put a hold on the delivery of four F-16 fighter jets, M2A1 tanks and Apache helicopters following the ouster of president Mohammed Morsi. The US said it would refrain from making more military deliveries until it determined if Morsi’s ouster was a coup.
Hagel told Sobhi that Secretary of State John Kerry would “soon” certify to Congress that Egypt is holding up its strategic relationship with the US and meeting its obligations. But it was not clear if this means the US now believes Morsi’s ouster was not a coup, nor if the other military equipment will be delivered, said the Observer.
Hagel also told Sobhi that the US does not yet believe Egypt is supporting a democratic transition.
The timing of the US move may be linked to reports Friday that Cairo and Moscow have reached an initial agreement on implementing a new Russian arms delivery deal worth over $3 billion.
Egypt’s defense minister, Field Marshal Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who is likely to become the new president, negotiated the agreement, aimed at replacing decreased assistance from Washington, during talks in Moscow last Thursday between Russian and Egyptian foreign and defense ministers.
Russia’s Vedomosti cited Russian defense sources as saying that the sides initialed or signed contracts for the delivery of MiG-29M/M2 Fulcrum fighter jets, air defense missile complexes, Mi-35 helicopters, coastal anti-ship complexes, light weapons and ammunition.
Similar posts
-
Israel Is Held To A Higher Standard Than Any Country
April 25, 2024In the intricate tapestry of global affairs, one nation stands out for enduring scrutiny and condem...
-
Israel Has The Most Moral Military In The World
April 10, 2024In the heart of a region often riddled with conflict, Israel stands out not only for its technologi...
-
The Resilience of the Israeli People
April 2, 2024Visitors from around the world have seen Hamas's October 7th Massacre's destruction in southern Isr...
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...
-
Israel Is A Great Country To Live In
December 28, 2023Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Israel stands as a vibrant and dynamic nation, offeri...