Sisi calls for highest level of preparedness in meeting with army chiefs

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called for maintaining competence and the highest level of military preparedness to execute any tasks assigned to the Armed Forces to protect national security, the Egyptian presidency said on Wednesday.

Sisi met with Nabil Hasaballah, commander of Egypt’s Second Field Army headquartered in Ismailia; Ehab El-Faar, chairman of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority; and Ahmed El-Shazli, chairman of the Armed Forces Finance Authority.

The president’s remarks come in light of the current challenges the region is witnessing and the Egyptian Armed Forces’ huge ability in all branches, specialties and armament systems, presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said.

During the meeting, Sisi hailed efforts by the Armed Forces to preserve the security, stability, and resources of the Egyptian people, according to the statement.

This meeting comes a month after Egypt’s parliament unanimously approved the deployment of Armed Forces abroad to defend Egypt’s national security, it said in a statement, amid the expansion of Libya’s Turkey-backed Government of National Accord, which has reportedly moved fighters to capture the key coastal Libyan city of Sirte.

The decision came days after Sisi said Egypt would not stand idle in the face of any attack on Sirte, which he earlier described as a “red line” for Egypt’s national security and warned that it could prompt military intervention by Cairo.

“The Egyptian nation, throughout history, has advocated for peace, but it does not accept trespasses nor does it renounce its rights. Egypt is extremely able to defend itself, its interests, its brothers and neighbours from any peril or threat,” the statement said.

“The Armed Forces and its leadership have the constitutional and legal licence to determine when and where to respond to these dangers and threats,” it added.