Kerry: Egypt on frontline in fight against terrorism
Washington seeks Cairo’s stamp of approval for coalition against Islamic State, even as Egyptian army unlikely to take part in military action
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Cairo, Egypt — US Secretary of State John Kerry said Egypt was on the frontline of fighting “terrorism” as he sought Cairo’s support for a coalition against Islamic State jihadists.
“Egypt is on the frontline of the fight against terrorism, particularly when it comes to fighting extremist groups in Sinai,” Kerry told a press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri.
Egypt’s powerful army is unlikely to take part in military action against the Islamic State jihadists, but it has closely cooperated with the United States on counter-terrorism.
Washington says it is “at war” with IS and has named John Allen, a former commander in Afghanistan and Iraq, to coordinate its campaign against the movement that has seized large chunks of Iraq and Syria.
Kerry, who flew in to Cairo from Ankara, held talks with President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi after meeting Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi.
Having secured the backing of 10 Arab governments this week, Washington is seeking a stamp of approval for its campaign from Egypt and its religious institutions, which include the prestigious Al-Azhar university.
“One of the issues is to have their religious institutions to speak out against [IS], to talk about it in Friday sermons,” said a US official travelling with Kerry.
“They [the Egyptians] are concerned about foreign fighters, an issue that has aggravated their domestic terrorism.”
The official said that the desire to get Egypt on board would not stop Kerry pressing Sissi on human rights concerns, including the jailing of three Al-Jazeera television journalists and the imprisonment of secular dissidents.
Washington has said it is “at war” with IS, although Kerry has been reluctant to use the term, speaking instead of a “major counter-terrorism operation”.
Ties between the traditional allies soured last year after the army overthrew elected Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and cracked down on his supporters. Washington suspended some military aid, but it has since been restored.
Kerry said he and his government support Egypt’s campaign against the Sinai militants, who have killed scores of policemen and soldiers.
“That is why in an effort to support, we announced last month the delivery” of Apache helicopters, he said.
The Times of Israel Community.