Critical analysis of Egyptian Defence and Security
In February 2018, the Egyptian Armed Forces launched its largest and longest offensive since the Arab-Israeli conflict. Comprehensive Military Operation Sinai 2018, for the first time, deployed thousands of troops from the country’s army and navy special operations forces simultaneously. The offensive was also the first significant deployment of Egyptian Army Paratroopers in over forty… Continue reading Egyptian Paratroopers: Between Modernisation and Obsolescence
An Egyptian Air Force Rafale fighter jet crashed during a training sortie which coincided with President Macron’s visit to Cairo. Sources speaking to Egypt Defence Review on condition of anonymity said a single Egyptian Air Force pilot was killed in the incident. Open source investigation later confirmed the identity of the pilot as Major Mohtady… Continue reading Egypt Loses Rafale Fighter Jet During Macron Visit
A hotel in the popular holiday destination of Sharm El-sheikh has defended the use of fake bomb detectors after customer complaints. Recent visitors to the South Sinai beach resort witnessed security personnel using fraudulent “magic wand” devices during explosives sweeps. An email exchange obtained by Egypt Defence Review between the Quality Coordinator of a world… Continue reading Sharm El-Sheikh Hotel Defends Fake Bomb Detectors
In October of 2015 a Russian airliner was brought down over the Sinai Peninsula. To this day investigators don’t know how an explosive device was snuck on board, but attribute the attack to a Sinai based branch of the Islamic State. Metrojet Flight 9268 was destroyed in the air following its departure from Sharm El-Sheikh… Continue reading Sharm El-Sheikh’s Fake Bomb Detectors
The Middle East Security Alliance or, as it is colloquially known, the Arab NATO is a proposed alliance of seven Arab countries and the United States. The joint force has been publicized as a potential bulwark against Iran and a partner to the United States in the fight against terrorism. The concept of a joint… Continue reading The Arab NATO
Egypt’s military modernisation programme can be linked to new threat perceptions and growing political ambitions. It is a nation that is increasingly looking towards the Red Sea and Eastern Mediterranean, home to newly found natural resources and a recent playground for regional actors. There has been a tendency to trivialise Egyptian defence procurements as prestige… Continue reading Modernised Mismanagement
Operation Sinai 18 is the latest in a long line of “decisive” military operations by Egyptian Security Forces against terror groups in the restive Sinai Peninsula. Launched in February, and petering out in May, it is the longest Egyptian offensive in contemporary military history; as well as being part of Egypt’s longest war. The operation… Continue reading Sinai: New Tricks Old Habits
It's been nearly five years since an attack by militants on Egyptian Security Forces announced the start of a brutal insurgency in earnest. A series of military operations followed that promised to bring the problem to a swift close, yet here we are; Wilayat Sinai has proven and continues to prove that it is incredibly… Continue reading Sinai: Tactical Frailties Undermine Strategic Half Measures
This post is intended as a reply or rebuttal to a Washington Post article by Sudarsan Raghavan. Let me start off by saying I'm not too surprised by the content, it does not mark a departure from what has come before in regards to the Sinai and Egyptian Counter Terror efforts. This is not a… Continue reading Egypt’s Long, Bloody Fight Against The Islamic State in Sinai is Going Somewhere
Native Egyptians will often tell you that the military has a series of hospitals which are barred to the majority of the public unless there are exceptional circumstances. They will describe them as being much better than their civilian counterparts - which are dreadful places - and on the whole this appears to be true.… Continue reading Egyptian Medical Corps: Where Are Egypt’s Combat Medics?
To understand the Rapid Deployment Forces one first has to look at Egypt's contemporary military history and its current threat perceptions. Both of these have mandated a certain organisational set up that focuses on internal and local threats. Israel the traditional rival to the East, Libya the pariah to the West, and an unpredictable Sudan to the… Continue reading Egyptian Rapid Deployment Forces: Independence Essential Speed Optional
There are many misconceptions regarding Egyptian special operations forces. The most common one wrongly defines them as Special Forces. Part of why there are misconceptions is the somewhat confusing terminology and designations, in addition to general miscommunication by the Armed Forces. This post aims to be somewhat of a corrective and is part of a… Continue reading Egyptian Special Operations Forces: A Thunderbolt Introduction
Since the Peace Accords with Israel the Egyptian Air Force has gone through several changes. What was predominantly a Soviet equipped Air Force suddenly had to realign its procurement policies away from the Soviet Union and towards the West. However it also had to keep several Soviet types such as the MiG - 21 in… Continue reading Egyptian Air Force: Repeating Past Mistakes
I've always wanted to write extensively about the Egyptian Armed Forces and Egyptian Security in general. For one there isn't that much balanced content out there...
