عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

German-made Frigate Joins Egyptian Navy Fleet

A snapshot of the newly received MEKO A-200 frigate named (Al-Aziz) by the Egyptian Navy on Tuesday, 18 October 2022. Courtesy of the Egyptian Armed Forces spokesman's Facebook page.
A snapshot of the newly received MEKO A-200 frigate named (Al-Aziz) by the Egyptian Navy on Tuesday, 18 October 2022. Courtesy of the Egyptian Armed Forces spokesman's Facebook page.
TT
20
TT

German-made Frigate Joins Egyptian Navy Fleet

A snapshot of the newly received MEKO A-200 frigate named (Al-Aziz) by the Egyptian Navy on Tuesday, 18 October 2022. Courtesy of the Egyptian Armed Forces spokesman's Facebook page.
A snapshot of the newly received MEKO A-200 frigate named (Al-Aziz) by the Egyptian Navy on Tuesday, 18 October 2022. Courtesy of the Egyptian Armed Forces spokesman's Facebook page.

The Egyptian naval forces received Sunday a new German-made MEKO-A200 frigate at a base in the coastal province of Alexandria, the Egyptian military said in a statement.

Built by Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), the frigate delivery procedures were completed in Bremerhaven, Germany.

The Commander of the Northern Military Region and several Naval Forces commanders and students at the Naval College attended the reception ceremony.

The Commander of the Egyptian Naval Forces, Lieutenant General Ashraf Atwa, stressed the highest degrees of excellence in the combat system and modern technology of the frigate.

The Al-Qadir frigate represents a significant technological addition with immense combat capabilities to the Navy's potential, said the spokesperson for the Egyptian Armed Forces.

He added that the frigate possesses numerous advanced technical features and armament systems that enable it to efficiently and effectively carry out all combat missions, thus supporting the Navy's combat capabilities.

The spokesperson emphasized that the frigate will enter active duty in the Egyptian Navy, contributing to the ability to face challenges, mitigate risks, and ensure complete control over Egypt's extended coastlines in the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.

In a traditional maritime ceremony, many naval vessels and helicopters participated in a naval parade off the coast of Alexandria, celebrating the arrival of the Al-Qadir frigate.

Most Viewed

 
Arab World

Israel Lobbies US to Keep Russian Bases in a 'Weak' Syria

People look for the position of the moon to determine the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, at Mount Qasioun in Damascus, Syria February 28, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
People look for the position of the moon to determine the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, at Mount Qasioun in Damascus, Syria February 28, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
TT
20
TT

Israel Lobbies US to Keep Russian Bases in a 'Weak' Syria

People look for the position of the moon to determine the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, at Mount Qasioun in Damascus, Syria February 28, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
People look for the position of the moon to determine the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, at Mount Qasioun in Damascus, Syria February 28, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

Israel is lobbying the United States to keep Syria weak and decentralized, including by letting Russia keep its military bases there to counter Türkiye's growing influence in the country, four sources familiar with the efforts said.
Türkiye's often fraught ties with Israel have come under severe strain during the Gaza war and Israeli officials have told Washington that Syria's new rulers, who are backed by Ankara, pose a threat to Israel's borders, the sources said.
The lobbying points to a concerted Israeli campaign to influence US policy at a critical juncture for Syria, as the opposition fighters who ousted Bashar al-Assad try to stabilize the fractured state and get Washington to lift punishing sanctions.
Israel communicated its views to top US officials during meetings in Washington in February and subsequent meetings in Israel with US Congressional representatives, three US sources and another person familiar with the contacts told Reuters.
The main points were also circulated to some senior US officials in an Israeli "white paper", two of the sources said.
All the sources spoke on condition of anonymity due to diplomatic sensitivities.
"Israel's big fear is that Türkiye comes in and protects this new Syrian order, which then ends up being a base for Hamas and other militants," said Aron Lund, a fellow at US-based think-tank Century International.
The US State Department and National Security Council did not provide a response to questions for this story. The office of Israel's prime minister and the foreign ministries in Syria and Türkiye did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
It was not clear to what extent US President Donald Trump's administration is considering adopting Israel's proposals, the sources said. It has said little about Syria, leaving uncertainty over both the future of the sanctions and whether US forces deployed in the northeast will remain.
Lund said Israel had a good chance of influencing US thinking, describing the new administration as wildly pro-Israeli. "Syria is barely even on Trump's radar now. It's low priority, and there's a policy void to fill," he said.

ISRAELI ATTACKS
Israel has publicly declared its mistrust of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the faction that led the campaign that toppled Assad.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel will not tolerate the presence in southern Syria of HTS, or any other forces affiliated with the new rulers, and demanded the territory be demilitarized.
Following Assad's ouster, Israel carried out extensive airstrikes on Syrian military bases and moved forces into a UN-monitored demilitarized zone within Syria. Earlier this week, Israel struck military sites south of Damascus.
Now, Israel is deeply concerned about Türkiye's role as a close ally of Syria's new rulers, three US sources said, describing the messages delivered by Israeli officials.