Egypt’s President Affirms Significance of ‘National Projects’

Sisi during his meeting with the head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi during his meeting with the head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority. (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt’s President Affirms Significance of ‘National Projects’

Sisi during his meeting with the head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi during his meeting with the head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority. (Egyptian Presidency)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Saturday affirmed that the hard work in “national projects” being implemented in the country aims to establish a new Egyptian reality, characterized by a high quality of life, and an increase in employment and development opportunities for all Egyptians.

Egypt, like other countries in the world, is facing an economic crisis due to the consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The crisis has been compounded by a drop in the currency against the dollar.

Sisi convened with the head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority Major General, Ahmed Al-Azazy.

The spokesman for the Presidency, Ahmed Fahmy, stated that the meeting reviewed the status of a number of Engineering Authority projects in various sectors nationwide, particularly establishing and developing the road network, and achieving optimal utilization of lands and main roads to establish integrated industrial and agricultural development areas, in order to ease traffic jams.

This is in addition to increasing and facilitating the movement of trade and investments and promoting various economic activities, in a way that contributes to achieving the goals of comprehensive and sustainable development.

Engineering Authority projects, within the framework of the national strategy for the reconstruction and development of Sinai, were also presented as well as the status of the construction of projects in new cities across the country.

Sisi gave directives to continue work, while committing to the designated timetables, and to apply the highest standards in the stages of planning, implementation, follow-up, and evaluation. This is while taking into consideration environmental requirements.

The major development projects carried out by the state were not for show, but necessary to establish the investment environment and infrastructure to achieve comprehensive economic development that raises the standard of living of all people, said Sisi earlier at a ceremony marking the 71st Police Day at the Police Academy Conference Complex.

"It is impossible to embark on the path of modern industrialization and massive export without having the necessary elements to achieve this, including cities, roads, a transportation network, technology, electricity, water, and sanitation."



Israeli Military Says Commandos Raided Missile Plant in Syria in September

People inspect a damaged area in the aftermath of what Syrian state media reported was an Israeli strike in Masyaf, Hama province, Syria September 9, 2024. (Reuters)
People inspect a damaged area in the aftermath of what Syrian state media reported was an Israeli strike in Masyaf, Hama province, Syria September 9, 2024. (Reuters)
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Israeli Military Says Commandos Raided Missile Plant in Syria in September

People inspect a damaged area in the aftermath of what Syrian state media reported was an Israeli strike in Masyaf, Hama province, Syria September 9, 2024. (Reuters)
People inspect a damaged area in the aftermath of what Syrian state media reported was an Israeli strike in Masyaf, Hama province, Syria September 9, 2024. (Reuters)

Israel's military said on Thursday its special forces had raided an underground missile production site in Syria in September that it said was primed to produce hundreds of precision missiles for use against Israel by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

The complex near Masyaf, close to the Mediterranean coast, was "the flagship of Iranian manufacturing efforts in our region", Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told a briefing with reporters.

"This facility was designed to manufacture hundreds of strategic missiles per year from start to finish, for Hezbollah to use in their aerial attacks on Israel."

He said the plant, dug into a mountainside, had been under observation by Israel since construction began in 2017 and was on the point of being able to manufacture precision-guided missiles, some with a range of up to 300 km (190 miles).

"This ability was becoming active, so we're talking about an immediate threat," he said.

Details of the Sept. 8 raid have been reported in Israeli media but Shoshani said this was the first confirmation by the military, which rarely comments on special forces operations.

At the time, Syrian state media said at least 16 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in the west of the country.

Shoshani said the nighttime raid was "one of the more complex operations the IDF has done in recent years". Accompanied by airstrikes, it involved dozens of aircraft and around 100 helicopter-borne troops, he said.

"At the end of the raid, the troops dismantled the facility, including the machines and the manufacturing equipment, themselves," he said.

The military released footage showing Israeli troops boarding and dismounting from helicopters and moving through what appears to be a concrete-lined tunnel and industrial site, where they examine documents.

Other footage showed senior commanders at a control center, apparently as the operation proceeds.

Israeli officials have accused the former Syrian government of president Bahar al-Assad of helping the Lebanese-based Hezbollah movement receive arms from Iran and say they are determined to stop the flow of weapons into Lebanon.

As Assad's government crumbled towards the end of last year, Israel launched a series of strikes against Syrian military infrastructure and weapons manufacturing sites to prevent them falling into the hands of enemies.