Sisi Inaugurates Bernice Military Base at Event Attended by Khalid bin Salman, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince

Egypt's Bernice military base. (Twitter)
Egypt's Bernice military base. (Twitter)
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Sisi Inaugurates Bernice Military Base at Event Attended by Khalid bin Salman, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince

Egypt's Bernice military base. (Twitter)
Egypt's Bernice military base. (Twitter)

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi inaugurated on Wednesday the Bernice military base on the Red Sea. The event was attended by Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.

The inauguration was also attended by Egyptian parliament Speaker Ali Abdul Aal, Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli and Defense Minister Mohammed Zaki.

Described as the largest air and land base in the Middle East, Bernice covers an area of 150,000 acres and overlooks the Red Sea coast on Egypt’s southern border. It includes two tarmacs and a hangar to perform maintenance operations on jets, reported Egypt’s official news agency. It boasts many firing and training ranges for all weapons, in addition to a number of logistic and housing facilities. It comprises a naval base, air base, military hospital and a number of combat and administrative units.

The base has already witnessed a major military drill, Qadir 2020, that included the participation of Mistral-class carriers, submarines, combat ships, amphibious units and various fighters.

In a tweet, Sheikh Mohamed said: “I was happy to accompany the Egyptian President during the opening of the Berenice military base and civilian airport. Such achievements reflect Egypt's vision of all-round development and enhance its role in regional stability. We wish it more progress and prosperity.”



Tunisia Activists Launch Gaza-bound Convoy in 'Symbolic Act'

 Tunisians gather at a meeting point in Tunis on June 9, 2025, ahead of the departure of a land convoy named “Steadfastness” to break the siege on Gaza. (AFP)
Tunisians gather at a meeting point in Tunis on June 9, 2025, ahead of the departure of a land convoy named “Steadfastness” to break the siege on Gaza. (AFP)
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Tunisia Activists Launch Gaza-bound Convoy in 'Symbolic Act'

 Tunisians gather at a meeting point in Tunis on June 9, 2025, ahead of the departure of a land convoy named “Steadfastness” to break the siege on Gaza. (AFP)
Tunisians gather at a meeting point in Tunis on June 9, 2025, ahead of the departure of a land convoy named “Steadfastness” to break the siege on Gaza. (AFP)

Hundreds of people, mainly Tunisians, launched on Monday a land convoy bound for Gaza, seeking to "break the siege" on the Palestinian territory, activists said.

Organizers said the nine-bus convoy was not bringing aid into Gaza, but rather aimed at carrying out a "symbolic act" by breaking the blockade on the territory described by the United Nations as "the hungriest place on Earth".

The "Soumoud" convoy, meaning "steadfastness" in Arabic, includes doctors and aims to arrive in Rafah, in southern Gaza, "by the end of the week", activist Jawaher Channa told AFP.

It is set to pass through Libya and Egypt, although Cairo has yet to provide passage permits, she added.

"We are about a thousand people, and we will have more join us along the way," said Channa, spokeswoman of the Tunisian Coordination of Joint Action for Palestine, the group organizing the caravan.

"Egypt has not yet given us permission to cross its borders, but we will see what happens when we get there," she said.

Channa said the convoy was not set to face issues crossing Libya, "whose people have historically supported the Palestinian cause", despite recent deadly clashes in the country that remains divided between two governments.

Algerian, Mauritanian, Moroccan and Libyan activists were also among the group, which is set to travel along the Tunisian and Libyan coasts, before continuing on to Rafah through Egypt.

After 21 months of war, Israel is facing mounting international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza to alleviate widespread shortages of food and basic supplies.

On June 1, the Madleen aid boat, boarded by activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and European parliament member Franco-Palestinian Rima Hassan, set sail for Gaza from Italy.

But on Monday morning Israel intercepted it, preventing it from reaching the Palestinian territory.

The UN has warned that the Palestinian territory's entire population is at risk of famine.