Head of the U.S. Central Command, General Frank McKenzie, on Tuesday, revealed that the United States would provide Egypt with F-15 aircraft.
Speaking during a congressional hearing, the top U.S. general for forces in the Middle East said, “I think we have good news in that we’re going to provide them with F-15s, which was a long, hard slog.”
McKenzie did not mention how many F-15s, made by Boeing, would be provided or at what time.
McKenzie spoke of “very robust” military assistance to Egypt while arriving in Cairo last month following the move by the Biden administration to cut $130 million in military aid to the country over human rights concerns.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, a former Army chief, is criticized for crushing dissent since he came to power following the 2013 ouster of elected President Mohamed Mursi, the leader of the banned Muslim Brotherhood.
US officials have said that the relationship between America and Egypt is complicated. The most populous Arab country is a vital ally in the Arab world and an important voice. U.S. military officials have long stressed Egypt’s role in expediting U.S. warship passage through the Suez Canal and allowing overflights for American military aircraft.
