Egyptian military Chief of Staff Mahmoud Hegazy met on Thursday with the United Kingdom's Defense Secretary Michael Fallon in London to discuss Middle East security and threats posed by the Islamic State group. "Britain is working with Egypt to combat threats, including from Daesh [IS group] terrorism in Sinai and Libya," Fallon said following the duo's meeting. The UK defense secretary added that deepening the UK's relationship with Egypt "helps ensure stability in the Middle East and improves safety and security in Britain." The officials discussed shared security interests in Libya, as well as preparations for a future joint military exercise involving Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) training. Hegazy was received by a ceremonial guard in London, where he also met with his counterpart Stuart Peach. In October, Egypt and the United Kingdom concluded a joint naval exercise in Alexandria — part of a wider defence partnership between the two countries. Fallon visited Egypt last September, at which time he affirmed the UK's commitment to continued cooperation with the Egyptian military, particularly through C-IED training.
