Israeli official confirms strong cooperation with Egypt in Sinai

Jewish state’s new policy allows Cairo to quickly boost troops in volatile peninsula to combat Islamic State

This photo posted on a file sharing website Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, by the Islamic State Group in Sinai, a terrorist organization, shows an explosion as terrorists attack an Egyptian police checkpoint on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, in el-Arish, north Sinai, Egypt. (Islamic State Group in Sinai, via AP)
This photo posted on a file sharing website Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, by the Islamic State Group in Sinai, a terrorist organization, shows an explosion as terrorists attack an Egyptian police checkpoint on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, in el-Arish, north Sinai, Egypt. (Islamic State Group in Sinai, via AP)

An Israeli defense official on Wednesday confirmed that the country has developed a new policy in recent years to allow Egypt to quickly beef up its forces in the volatile Sinai Peninsula as part of a shared struggle against Islamic terrorists.

The official spoke days after Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said there are about 25,000 Egyptian troops operating in Sinai. It was the first time an Egyptian leader has commented on the number of troops battling terrorists there.

His comments, made Monday night in a telephone call to a live TV talk show, underlined the depth of his commitment to the fight against terrorists, but also reflected the immense challenges Egypt faces.

In addition to the troops, Egypt’s military is also known to have deployed F-16 fighter jets as well as Apache helicopter gunships and tanks in northern Sinai. Egypt’s close coordination with Israel in the fight against IS in Sinai is widely believed to be helping to fuel the insurgency.

Israel, which is bitter enemies with the Hamas terrorist group in the neighboring Gaza Strip, sees Egypt as an important ally in the battle against Islamic militant groups in the region and the two countries have close security and intelligence ties.

This photo posted on a file sharing website Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, by the Islamic State Group in Sinai, shows a deadly attack by terrorists on an Egyptian police checkpoint, Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, in el-Arish, north Sinai, Egypt. (Islamic State Group in Sinai, via AP)
This photo posted on a file sharing website Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, by the Islamic State Group in Sinai, shows a deadly attack by terrorists on an Egyptian police checkpoint, Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, in el-Arish, north Sinai, Egypt. (Islamic State Group in Sinai, via AP)

While their historic 1979 peace agreement limited the number of Egyptian forces in the border area near Israel, it includes provisions to allow Egypt to increase its forces if Israel agrees.

The Israeli defense official said that Israel used to treat such requests with caution, but that in recent years has taken on a new policy to approve requests much faster in a reflection of the growing friendship and joint interests.

“We do have a new policy and that has to do with terrorism over there,” he said. “It’s a common threat and a common interest.”

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, was unable to provide firm numbers on Egyptian troop levels in Sinai, but said they were “significant.”

“There’s a need on the ground that we more than acknowledge,” he said.

Most Popular
read more: