The Sinai is the latest front for the war against jihadis:
Egyptian helicopter gunships and tanks pounded suspected hideouts of Islamic militants in the northern Sinai Peninsula on Saturday, in what officials described as a major new offensive in the insurgent stronghold. Residents who witnessed winding columns of trucks and armored vehicles pour into the area said the operation was one of the largest there in years.
As I've noted before, we started giving aid to Egypt when it was an autocratic state. Why would we punish Egypt now just because they technically had a democracy that put in jihadi-friendly Moslem Brotherhood leadership prior to going back to an autocracy? In what world does this make sense? No net change of ground, no?
Strategypage notes the broader issues involved:
In the last month there have been over 300 terrorist attacks on Egyptian security forces and government officials in the Sinai Peninsula and Egypt has responded by sending more troops, armored vehicles and helicopters into Sinai and these are now making raids all over the area. The 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel included provisions for using Sinai as a neutral zone, with limitations on how many troops and weapons Egypt could place there. Israel is looking the other way as Egypt violates that clause. It’s more likely that Egypt and Israel have another, less formal and secret agreement to not only allow more Egyptian troops into Sinai but also to coordinate intelligence and counter-terror operations by both countries.
Egyptian actions include efforts to cut jihadi tunnels from Gaza to Egyptian territory.
Lest you think we have no interest in this Egyptian military campaign, remember that we have troops in Sinai.
