CAIRO: The United States said an upcoming joint military exercise with Egypt was canceled due to the “ongoing transitional events” in the country. The Egyptian Government and the United States mutually agreed to postpone the 2011 exercise Bright Star that was scheduled to happen later this year. “The decision was reached as part of our routine bilateral conversations. Egypt and the United States also agreed to commence formal planning in June 2012 for the next installment of EXERCISE BRIGHT STAR in 2013,” said a statement from the US Department of State. The military exercise is a biennial, multinational exercise sponsored by US Central Command designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships. Other military forces are also part of the exercise from countries such France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Turkey and the UK. The Egyptian army is currently doing operations in the Sinai peninsula, fighting extremist groups and small terrorists cells. Last week around 2000 solders entered Sinai preparing for Operation Nesr, aiming at capturing cells linked to al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. So far tens of people have been arrested and a large number of weapons have been captured by the army forces. At least one person has been reportedly killed in the operation. BM