Russia Increases Flights to Egypt

A traveler passes through an automatic disinfection booth at the entrance to the seaport of Egypt's southern Red Sea resort city, Hurghada, on June 19, 2020, while security measures are in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic (AFP/KHALED DESOUKI)
A traveler passes through an automatic disinfection booth at the entrance to the seaport of Egypt's southern Red Sea resort city, Hurghada, on June 19, 2020, while security measures are in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic (AFP/KHALED DESOUKI)
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Russia Increases Flights to Egypt

A traveler passes through an automatic disinfection booth at the entrance to the seaport of Egypt's southern Red Sea resort city, Hurghada, on June 19, 2020, while security measures are in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic (AFP/KHALED DESOUKI)
A traveler passes through an automatic disinfection booth at the entrance to the seaport of Egypt's southern Red Sea resort city, Hurghada, on June 19, 2020, while security measures are in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic (AFP/KHALED DESOUKI)

Russia announced Friday it would resume international regular flights starting February 8, and up the number of its flights to Egypt.

“From February 8, flights will resume from international airports in Astrakhan, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Makhachkala, Mineralnye Vody, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm and Khabarovsk,” Egypt’s official news agency, MENA, reported.

It said the headquarters of combating the coronavirus in Russia decided that as of February 8, the number of regular flights to Egypt from these Russian airports will be increased at a rate of no more than one flight per week from each airport.

A Russian delegation of security and aviation experts visited Egypt on Thursday to inspect the latest security procedures at the Cairo, Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh airports and the process for the resumption of regular charter flights from Russia to Egypt’s Red Sea resorts.

An informed source said the Russian delegation would remain in the country until Feb. 3 to inspect all measures inside departure and arrival halls, alongside procedures for securing bags and travelers and ensuring the presence of security personnel in their assigned spots.

Moscow halted civilian air traffic to Egypt in 2015 after militants detonated a bomb on a Russian Metrojet flight leaving the tourist resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, killing 224 people on board.

In April 2018, Russia’s biggest airline Aeroflot said it would restart flights to Cairo.



Hezbollah-Israel Ceasefire Proposal Says Only ‘Official’ Forces May Carry Arms in Lebanon

 Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
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Hezbollah-Israel Ceasefire Proposal Says Only ‘Official’ Forces May Carry Arms in Lebanon

 Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)

A ceasefire proposal agreed to by Lebanon and Israel stipulates that only "official military and security forces" in Lebanon are authorized to carry arms in the country, according to a copy of the deal dated on Tuesday and seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

It specifically names those forces as the Lebanese Armed Forces, the Internal Security Forces, General Security, State Security, Lebanese customs and municipal police.

Officials in both the Lebanese government and Iran-backed Hezbollah have long referred to cabinet statements since 2008 enshrining the right to "resistance" as providing official approval for Hezbollah's arsenal.

The truce proposal refers to both sides' commitment to fully implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, including provisions that refer to the "disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon".

Hezbollah has not formally commented on the ceasefire, but senior official Hassan Fadlallah told Lebanon's Al Jadeed TV late on Tuesday that while the group supported the extension of the Lebanese state's authority, the group would emerge from the war stronger.

"Thousands will join the resistance... Disarming the resistance was an Israeli proposal that fell through," said Fadlallah, who is also a member of Lebanon's parliament.