Non-Egyptian National Involved in ‘Oasis’ Attack

People carry the coffin of Egyptian police officer Ahmed Fayez, who was attacked with other security forces by militants in Egypt's western desert, in El Hosary Mosque outside Cairo, Egypt, on October 21 (Reuters photo)
People carry the coffin of Egyptian police officer Ahmed Fayez, who was attacked with other security forces by militants in Egypt's western desert, in El Hosary Mosque outside Cairo, Egypt, on October 21 (Reuters photo)
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Non-Egyptian National Involved in ‘Oasis’ Attack

People carry the coffin of Egyptian police officer Ahmed Fayez, who was attacked with other security forces by militants in Egypt's western desert, in El Hosary Mosque outside Cairo, Egypt, on October 21 (Reuters photo)
People carry the coffin of Egyptian police officer Ahmed Fayez, who was attacked with other security forces by militants in Egypt's western desert, in El Hosary Mosque outside Cairo, Egypt, on October 21 (Reuters photo)

Egypt revealed details concerning the horrifying terror ambush in the Western Sahara which killed a number of police officers last October. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said that all members affiliated with the responsible terror cell have been killed save for a single assailant.

According to Sisi, the attacker was a non-Egyptian national without disclosing further information.

Sisi said that the media would be handed further information on the face behind the 14th terrorist taken in alive.

More so, the President said that the intensifying attacks targeting the oasis zone had pushed for more stringent security measures to fail and surging of new terror cells.

In the same vein, security experts and strategists said that “Egypt provides its western borders around-the-clock air support, ground border guards and satellites”.

Consequently, terrorists suffered great losses.

Strategists added that “the large number of weapons seized from terrorists during recently suggests large funding.”

The interior ministry said security forces hunting down terrorists in the region were attacked on a road to the Bahariya oasis in the country's Western Desert, some 200 kilometers southwest of Cairo.

An official statement said a number of the attackers were killed, but did not give any figures for losses on either side.

A deadly attack on the police in Egypt's Western Desert was claimed by a new militant group risks opening up another front for security forces far beyond the remote northern Sinai, where they have battled a stubborn ISIS terror group since 2014.

A little-known group called Ansar Al Islam claimed responsibility for the October 21 attack. Analysts and security sources said the heavy weapons and tactics employed indicated ties to ISIS or more likely a Qaeda brigade led by Hesham Al Ashmawy, a former Egyptian special forces officer turned extremist.

Authorities have been fighting the Egyptian branch of the ISIS group, which has increased its attacks in the north of the Sinai peninsula more than 500 kilometers away from the latest violence.
In response to the latest bloodshed Egyptian security forces appeared to step up their operations in the area of the attack.

The Muslim Brotherhood remains to be the other ultra-hardline group threatening Egyptian security next to ISIS.



Sisi: Electricity Interconnection Projects with Saudi Arabia a Model for Regional Cooperation

Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
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Sisi: Electricity Interconnection Projects with Saudi Arabia a Model for Regional Cooperation

Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi affirmed that the electrical interconnection project with Saudi Arabia represents a model of regional energy cooperation and a benchmark for future similar ventures in electrical connectivity, directing close monitoring of all project details.
Sisi made these remarks during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy.
According to a statement by the Egyptian presidency on Sunday, the discussion reviewed the status of electrical interconnection projects between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, emphasizing their importance in enhancing grid efficiency and stability while optimizing the use of generation capacity during peak demand periods.
Cairo and Riyadh signed an agreement in 2012 to establish the electrical interconnection project at a cost of $1.8 billion, with Egypt contributing $600 million (1 USD = 49.65 EGP in local banks). In a government meeting in mid-October, Madbouly announced that the interconnection line is expected to become operational in May or June of next year, with an initial capacity of 1,500 megawatts.
This initiative is the first of its kind to enable high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power exchange in the Middle East and North Africa region. It connects Badr City in Egypt to Medina via Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. Late last month, Madbouly highlighted that the project, set to produce 3,000 megawatts in two phases, is a landmark achievement for Egypt’s energy sector.
Presidential spokesperson Mohamed al-Shenawy stated that the meeting also highlighted the progress on the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant. The project is seen as vital to Egypt’s comprehensive development strategy, which aims to diversify energy sources through renewable and alternative means, improving service delivery to citizens.
Located in northern Egypt, the Dabaa plant will consist of four nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of 4,800 megawatts (1,200 megawatts per reactor). The first reactor is expected to be operational by 2028, with the others coming online sequentially. The Egyptian government has pledged to fulfill its commitments to ensure the project meets its scheduled timeline.
The president also directed the government to intensify efforts to attract investments in the energy sector, develop the management of the national gas grid, and ensure stable energy supplies for both electricity and industrial sectors. Furthermore, he urged rapid progress on renewable energy projects to diversify energy sources, expand grid capacity, and modernize the network using advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce losses.