Egypt’s Defense Minister Urges Air Defense Forces to Maintain Peak Combat Readiness

Defense Minister Abdel Majeed Saqr at the iftar with members of the Air Defense Forces on Sunday. (Egyptian Military Spokesman)
Defense Minister Abdel Majeed Saqr at the iftar with members of the Air Defense Forces on Sunday. (Egyptian Military Spokesman)
TT

Egypt’s Defense Minister Urges Air Defense Forces to Maintain Peak Combat Readiness

Defense Minister Abdel Majeed Saqr at the iftar with members of the Air Defense Forces on Sunday. (Egyptian Military Spokesman)
Defense Minister Abdel Majeed Saqr at the iftar with members of the Air Defense Forces on Sunday. (Egyptian Military Spokesman)

Egyptian Defense Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Abdel Majeed Saqr called on the country’s air defense forces to maintain rigorous training and the highest levels of combat efficiency and operational readiness. He also stressed the importance of enhancing the technical performance of weapons and equipment to ensure maximum effectiveness.

During an iftar gathering with members of the Air Defense Forces on Sunday, Saqr emphasized the need for full preparedness to protect Egypt’s airspace against all threats. The event was attended by Chief of Staff Ahmed Khalifa, senior military commanders, and key officials from the armed forces.

According to military spokesman Gharib Abdel Hafez, the defense minister conveyed President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s appreciation for the unwavering efforts of Egypt’s air defense personnel in safeguarding national airspace around the clock.

He reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to continuously supporting the air defense units by equipping them with the latest combat systems to ensure optimal mission execution.

Saqr also reviewed regional developments and their implications for Egypt’s national security, underscoring the strategic importance of maintaining a well-prepared and technologically advanced military.

On Saturday, the defense minister shared an iftar meal with troops from the Central Military Zone, Border Guards, Paratroopers, and Special Forces. He highlighted the army’s recent advancements in training and armament across all branches, formations, and units.

“Our Armed Forces, equipped with a modernized defense system, are fully capable of securing the country’s strategic borders,” Saqr stated. He described national defense as a “sacred duty” requiring continuous readiness to confront emerging challenges.

He also urged the troops to prioritize ongoing training, maintain high morale, and enhance both their physical and tactical skills, ensuring that the military remains vigilant and prepared to execute any mission under any circumstances.



Syrian Govt Visits Notorious Al-Hol Camp for First Time Since Kurds Deal

A view of the Al-Hol camp. (AFP file)
A view of the Al-Hol camp. (AFP file)
TT

Syrian Govt Visits Notorious Al-Hol Camp for First Time Since Kurds Deal

A view of the Al-Hol camp. (AFP file)
A view of the Al-Hol camp. (AFP file)

A Syrian government delegation visited a notorious camp in the Kurdish-administered northeast that hosts families of suspected ISIS group members, the new authorities' first visit, both sides said Saturday.

Kurdish-run camps and prisons in the northeast hold tens of thousands of people, many with alleged or perceived links to ISIS, more than five years after the group’s territorial defeat in Syria.

Kurdish administration official Sheikhmous Ahmed said "a tripartite meeting was held on Saturday in the Al-Hol camp" that included a government delegation, another from the US-led international coalition fighting ISIS, and Kurdish administration members.

Al-Hol is northeast Syria's largest camp, housing some 37,000 people from dozens of countries, including 14,500 Iraqis, in dire conditions.

Discussions involved "establishing a mechanism for removing Syrian families from Al-Hol camp", Ahmed said.

The visit comes more than two months after interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Mazloum Abdi, head of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, agreed to integrate the Kurds' civil and military institutions into the national government.

The deal also involved guaranteeing the return of all Syrians to their hometowns and villages.

No progress has yet been reported on the administration's integration into the new government.

In Damascus, interior ministry spokesperson Noureddine al-Baba told reporters Al-Hol is "part of the agreement" signed by Sharaa and Abdi.

He said the issue requires "a comprehensive societal solution for the families who are victims" of ISIS.

In February, the Kurdish administration said that in coordination with the United Nations, it aimed to empty camps in the northeast of thousands of displaced Syrians and Iraqi refugees, including suspected relatives of extremists, by the end of the year.

Al-Hol includes a high-security section for families of foreign ISIS fighters.

Ahmed said the fate of those families "is linked to the countries that have nationals (in the camp), and to the international coalition", which supported Kurdish-led forces who fought ISIS, detaining its fighters and their relatives.

The Kurds have repeatedly called on countries to repatriate their citizens, but foreign governments have allowed home only a trickle, fearing security threats and a domestic political backlash.

It is unclear who will administer prisons holding thousands of ISIS fighters in the northeast, with Abdi saying in February the new authorities wanted them under Damascus's control.