Egypt's Defence Minister Mohamed Zaki has checked on security forces units in North Sinai, following up developments of the comprehensive military operation dubbed Sinai 2018. Zaki began on Monday his round by visiting Arish International Airport and permanent army operational units in the governorate, inspecting the military operations against militants affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) militant group branch in North Sinai. Last February, Egypt's army launched the comprehensive military campaign Sinai 2018 against “terrorists and criminal elements” in North Sinai and other parts of the Nile Delta and the Western Desert, who repeatedly, since 2013, targeted and killed hundreds of police officers and military soldiers. Separately, special troops of Egypt, the US, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia continued on Monday the joint military drills dubbed “Eagle Response 2018”, which started on 24 July in the Red Sea, with the participation of troops from South Korea, Pakistan, and Jordan as observers. The military exercise came in parallel with the arriving of troops of the US and the UAE to take part in other drills dubbed “Eagle Salute”, which is, according to a military statement, one of the most significant exercises aimed at enhancing military cooperation and exchanging experiences between the participating countries.
