Sisi gives armed forces chief 3 months to restore Sinai’s stability

CAIRO – 29 November 2017: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi obligated Lieutenant General Mohamed Farid Hegazy, chief of staff of the armed forces, to restore security and stability in the state, and especially Sinai, within three months.

“You are responsible of restoring the state’s stability within only three months. You are allowed to use all the needed brute force to do so,” Sisi said addressing Hegazy in his speech during the celebrations ceremony of Prophet Mohamed’s Birthday (Mawlid al-Nabi), Wednesday.

In his speech, Sisi said that Egypt is facing a full-fledged war to prevent it from developing and achieving its plans. He added that the war the state is facing is backed by several foreign governments that support terrorist and armed groups with money and weapons.

He described the terrorist attack that took place on Friday November 24 as a “cowardly terrorist attack” that targeted Egyptians inside God’s houses.

“We wonder today, how these groups that claim they are following Islam’s beliefs kill children, Sheikhs and worshippers,” Sisi added.

A group of 15 armed terrorists broke into Al-Rawdah mosque in Arish City, North Sinai, on Friday November 24, leaving at least 305 dead and 125 injured.

According to eye witnesses, the terrorists came out riding two all-terrain vehicles which they ditched 150 meters away from the crime scene. They detonated a bomb outside the mosque, and then opened fire at the Friday prayers’ congregants.