EGP declines vs. USD at Thursday's close    Euro area inflation rises to 2.0% in October '24 – flash estimates    IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE WHO SMOKES, GIVE THEM THE FACTS    Asian stocks slide as chip sector weakens    Egypt's Minister of Environment highlights biodiversity issues at COP16    Egypt's Agriculture Minister meets Syrian, Bahraini counterparts to boost cooperation in Amman    Al-Qassam Brigades targets Israeli vehicles in eastern Gaza    ACUD, DP World, and GAFI sign MoU to develop free zone in New Capital    Egyptian government encourages increased mutual investment with Bahrain: Finance Minister    A Tale of Two Cities: Alexandria hosts 2nd edition of exhibition celebrating Greek, Egyptian cultural ties    Egypt, Djibouti leaders discuss strengthening ties, regional issues    Egypt's FM affirms commitment to Sahel security, offers support to Niger    Egyptian banking sector support underprivileged communities in Alexandria – CBE    Afghanistan signs $163m deal for cement plant    US tightens tech investment rules for China    Biden unveils $3b investment to strengthen US port infrastructure    Military Production, Environment Ministers inaugurate banana fiber recycling plant    Luxor Museum to host exhibition on 19th century antiquities inspection tours    Nourhan Kamal Wins 2024 Helmi Sharawy Award for African Studies    Egypt observes Intl. E-waste Day, highlights recycling efforts    Egypt's military capabilities sufficient to defend country: Al-Sisi    Al-Sisi emphasises water security is Egypt's top priority amid Nile River concerns    Cairo Opera House hosts grand opening of Arab Music Festival, Conference    Grand Egyptian Museum ready for partial trial run on October 16: PM    Colombia unveils $40b investment plan for climate transition    Kabaddi: Ancient Indian sport gaining popularity in Egypt    Ecuador's drought forces further power cuts    Al-Sisi orders sports system overhaul after Paris Olympics    Basketball Africa League Future Pros returns for 2nd season    Egypt joins Africa's FEDA    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Paris Olympics opening draws record viewers    Who leads the economic portfolios in Egypt's new Cabinet?    Financial literacy becomes extremely important – EGX official    Motaz Azaiza mural in Manchester tribute to Palestinian journalists    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Command posts
Published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 16 - 08 - 2012

As the military continues raiding shelters of Islamic fundamentalists in Sinai, an unexpected change at the top of the Armed Forces could be a turning point in the confrontation, Amirah Ibrahim reports
The aftershocks of last week's deadly Sinai attack in which 16 soldiers at an Egyptian border guards unit were killed are rattling the country. On Sunday, President Mohamed Mursi dismissed all high-ranking officers of the Armed Forces, including the powerful military leader Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, who was defence minister and general commander for more than 15 years. Tantawi had also been de facto leader of the country from the time former president Hosni Mubarak stepped down in February last year to the election of Mursi as president last month.
Mursi promoted the military intelligence manager, Major General Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi as new defence minister.
Mursi's revolutionary reshuffle also included the second man, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sami Anan and the top commanders of the Air Force, Navy and Air Defence.
Following the attack against the border guards in Rafah at the Israeli-Egyptian border line, Mursi dismissed the Northern Sinai governor, head of the intelligence body and the commander of the Presidential Guards.
As counterattacks were being launched by Egyptian military forces against armed Islamic groups in Sinai, Mursi paid a visit to the battle zone on Friday accompanied by Tantawi and Anan. He addressed the Armed Forces in Rafah, affirming they would get their revenge.
El-Sisi was granted a double promotion to upgrade his rank from major general to first lieutenant general to allow him to top senior commanders.
El-Sisi who has no field experience in war, joined the army in 1977 making him the first defence minister who has not participated in any of Egypt's four wars with Israel.
On Tuesday, violent confrontations broke out between police and military forces on one hand and unidentified armed groups, mostly belonging to Islamic extremists, at Sheikh Zuwaid and Rafah districts in Northern Sinai. The army launched a military operation code named Eagle against terrorists in Sinai, using Apache helicopters and surveillance planes for the first time since Egypt and Israel signed their peace treaty in 1979. Dozens of soldiers and some 30 tanks were deployed to the area.
Following the attack which killed 16 Egyptian soldiers, Egypt closed the Rafah crossing as intelligence reports suggested the assailants had help from Gaza. On Friday, President Mursi responded to a Hamas plea to allow Palestinian pilgrims to cross; the borders were opened from one side for 48 hours.
Hamas officially accused Mursi of acting like former president Hosni Mubarak by helping the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. "We suffered from the unjust regime of Mubarak that participated in the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Why should we suffer now, in the era of Egypt's revolution and democracy?" stated Palestinian Interior Minister Fathi Hamad.
Hamas was in fact complaining about the Egyptian troops who, backed by the Air Force, sealed more than 100 cross-border tunnels used for smuggling goods.
When Mursi dismissed the military leaders, Hamas repeated its request that the Rafah border crossing point be permanently opened. Mursi responded with a two-way traffic opening of the borders for three days, allowing Palestinians in and out of Egypt. The border was open to patients, Palestinians pilgrims returning from the omra and humanitarian cases.
Operation Eagle has thus far killed 32 extremists. It shut down smuggling tunnels, but as well it brought a new reality on the scene, which is that the Egyptian military should have a new formula within the peace treaty to help control the Sinai Peninsula in order to ensure its full sovereignty.
Under the Camp David accords, the deployment of Egyptian military planes and helicopters in Sinai must be coordinated with Israel but the Egyptian military is finding it difficult to accept this proposition: It must protect its soldiers as well as those of Israel but while using a limited number of troops. As such, the army seems unhappy with Mursi's previous declaration of an intent to preserve signed political agreements.


Clic here to read the story from its source.