Sisi visits Sinai airbase, says militants almost defeated

CAIRO – 23 March 2018: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi visited on Friday one of the air bases in Sinai in which he met with officers of the armed forces who participated in the Comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018.

The visit comes days ahead of the 2018 presidential election; Sisi will end his current presidential term in June and is running for a second term in office.



The National Election Authority (NEA), headed by counselor Lashen Ibrahim, announced on Feb. 24 the final list for Egypt’s presidential election including President Sisi and Moussa Moustafa Moussa, head of al-Ghad Party.

During his speech, the Egyptian leader stressed that militants in the Sinai Peninsula would soon be defeated. “Egyptian efforts will build Egypt and lead it to more progress and development,” Sisi said.

Sisi hailed the efforts exerted in combating terror, saying they hold the key to achieving progress and prosperity for the country.

“We will return here soon to celebrate the victory” against the terrorists, he vowed.

Sisi had breakfast with the troops at the air base and joined them for the Friday communal prayer.


Egypt's President El-Sisi (C) having breakfast with air forces pilots at a North Sinai military air base. Minister of Defense Sedki Sobhi (R)

Last November President Sisi ordered the armed forces to eradicate terrorism in Sinai after an attack on a mosque that killed more than 300 people, in the deadliest incident in Egypt’s history.

In Feb. 9, Egypt’s military launched its comprehensive operation, named Sinai 2018, against jihadists, who have waged years of attacks on the police and troops.

Egypt’s military says its current operation against the militants in Sinai has featured unprecedented coordination between the army, navy and air force.



The president also revealed that the government had finished establishing a civilian airport in Sinai as part of its plan to develop the peninsula.

The president was accompanied in his visit by Interior Minister Magdy Abdel-Ghaffar, Defence Minister Sedky Sobhi, and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohamed Farid, as well as other military officials.