Egypt's Sisi Underlines 'Great Achievement' in Eliminating Terrorism

Sisi meets with members of the Supreme Police Council. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi meets with members of the Supreme Police Council. (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt's Sisi Underlines 'Great Achievement' in Eliminating Terrorism

Sisi meets with members of the Supreme Police Council. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi meets with members of the Supreme Police Council. (Egyptian Presidency)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi underlined the “great achievement” in eliminating terrorism across the country.

He said Egypt’s ultimate goal is to preserve its survival, maintain security and provide safety for citizens.

Sisi was speaking during the 70th Police Day celebrations at the Police Academy in New Cairo, which coincided with the 11th anniversary of the January Revolution that ousted former President Hosni Mubarak.

Police Day marks the anniversary of the Ismailiyah Battle in 1952 when Egyptian police officers refused to hand over their weapons to the British occupation and evacuate the Ismailiyah governorate building.

Sisi said the “glorious” battle embodies police heroism and the values of sacrifice, redemption and courage in defense of the homeland.

He saluted the police martyrs and their families and hailed their sacrifices to ensure 100 million citizens could live in peace, security and progress.

He praised the national role played by police officers and the armed forces to maintain security and stability across the country and achieve the aspired comprehensive development.

The January 25 Revolution was a revolt led by devoted youth who were looking forward to a better future and reality, he declared.

What has been achieved at the economic and security levels is just a step on the path to build the future, he stressed.

Sisi added that the leadership seeks to consolidate the foundations of the country’s stability and build the new republic that preserves the dignity of the Egyptians and provides them with the best living conditions.



Lebanon's PM Says Country to Begin Disarming South Litani to Ensure State Presence

President Joseph Aoun met with PM Najib Mikati at Baabda palace. (NNA)
President Joseph Aoun met with PM Najib Mikati at Baabda palace. (NNA)
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Lebanon's PM Says Country to Begin Disarming South Litani to Ensure State Presence

President Joseph Aoun met with PM Najib Mikati at Baabda palace. (NNA)
President Joseph Aoun met with PM Najib Mikati at Baabda palace. (NNA)

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Friday that the state will begin disarming southern Lebanon, particularly the south Litani region, to establish its presence across the country.
"We are in a new phase - in this new phase, we will start with south Lebanon and south Litani specifically in order to pull weapons so that the state can be present across Lebanese territory," Mikati said.

Mikati's remarks followed a meeting with newly elected President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Presidential Palace. Aoun was elected as the country's new head of state by parliament on Thursday, ending a vacancy in the presidency that had persisted for over two years.

In his address to parliament, Aoun pledged to control weapons outside the state's control, saying the government is the sole entity authorized to possess and use military force and weapons.
A ceasefire agreement that ended the 13-month-conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in November has given the Lebanese party 60 days to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon, while Israeli forces are also required to withdraw from the area over the same period.
The ceasefire agreement says Israeli forces will move south of the Blue Line “in a phased manner” within 60 days. The Lebanese army’s troops will deploy “in parallel” to the positions.