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US Approves $2.56 Billion in Military Sales to Egypt

US arms for Egypt: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (L behind) speaking with military officers during the inauguration of the new "July 3" naval base in Gargoub. - EGYPTIAN PRESIDENCY/AFP
US arms for Egypt: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (L behind) speaking with military officers during the inauguration of the new "July 3" naval base in Gargoub. - EGYPTIAN PRESIDENCY/AFP
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US Approves $2.56 Billion in Military Sales to Egypt

US arms for Egypt: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (L behind) speaking with military officers during the inauguration of the new "July 3" naval base in Gargoub. - EGYPTIAN PRESIDENCY/AFP
US arms for Egypt: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (L behind) speaking with military officers during the inauguration of the new "July 3" naval base in Gargoub. - EGYPTIAN PRESIDENCY/AFP

The US State Department approved Tuesday two major military equipment sales to Egypt of transport aircraft and radar systems.

The sale of 12 C-130 J Super Hercules transports and accompanying equipment is worth $2.2 billion, AFP reported on Wednesday.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the sale, still not finalized, "will improve Egypt's capability to meet current and future threats by providing airlift support for its forces by moving supplies, equipment, and people."

The aircraft can also be used for maritime patrol and rescue missions, it added.

In a second deal, Egypt can buy ground-based air defense systems worth $355 million to help it fend off air threats.

The State Department said the proposed sale would “support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a major non-NATO ally that remains an important strategic partner in the Middle East.”

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Arab World

Gaza Health Officials Say Israel Handed Over the Bodies of 15 Palestinians 

Palestinians sit outside their make shift homes along a road near the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, on November 9, 2025, following a US-brokered truce that halted the two-year war. (AFP)
Palestinians sit outside their make shift homes along a road near the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, on November 9, 2025, following a US-brokered truce that halted the two-year war. (AFP)
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Gaza Health Officials Say Israel Handed Over the Bodies of 15 Palestinians 

Palestinians sit outside their make shift homes along a road near the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, on November 9, 2025, following a US-brokered truce that halted the two-year war. (AFP)
Palestinians sit outside their make shift homes along a road near the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, on November 9, 2025, following a US-brokered truce that halted the two-year war. (AFP)

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said it had received on Monday the bodies of 15 Palestinian prisoners under the US-brokered ceasefire exchange deal.

"The ministry of health announces the receipt of 15 bodies of martyrs released today by the Israeli occupation through the Red Cross, bringing the total number of bodies received to 315" under the hostage-prisoner exchange deal, the ministry said.

They were returned in exchange for the remains of Israeli officer Lieutenant Hadar Goldin handed back to Israel the day before. Goldin was killed in the 2014 Gaza war.

Arab World

One Dead in Israeli Strike in South Lebanon

FILE PHOTO: People gather as smoke rises after Israeli strikes following Israeli military's evacuation orders, in Tayr Debba, southern Lebanon November 6, 2025. REUTERS/Ali Hankir/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People gather as smoke rises after Israeli strikes following Israeli military's evacuation orders, in Tayr Debba, southern Lebanon November 6, 2025. REUTERS/Ali Hankir/File Photo
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One Dead in Israeli Strike in South Lebanon

FILE PHOTO: People gather as smoke rises after Israeli strikes following Israeli military's evacuation orders, in Tayr Debba, southern Lebanon November 6, 2025. REUTERS/Ali Hankir/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People gather as smoke rises after Israeli strikes following Israeli military's evacuation orders, in Tayr Debba, southern Lebanon November 6, 2025. REUTERS/Ali Hankir/File Photo

An Israeli strike on a main highway in southern Lebanon killed one person Monday, the Lebanese health ministry said, as Israel intensifies attacks on the country.

Over the weekend, strikes killed five other people, with Israel accusing Hezbollah of rearming.

"An Israeli strike on a car in the area of Baissariyeh killed one person," the health ministry said Monday.

An AFP journalist saw a bombed out car on the road linking the cities of Sidon and Tyre, with traffic piling up as rescuers worked to retrieve the remains.

Despite a ceasefire in place since November 2024, Israel has kept up attacks on Lebanon, where it continues to hold five positions.

The European Union on Saturday joined a growing chorus of condemnation of Israel's intensified strikes, urging "to cease all actions that violate... the ceasefire agreement reached a year ago.”

Arab World

Egypt Begins Voting in Parliamentary Elections

Motorists drive past a campaign billboard in Giza for the Egyptian parliamentary elections. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Motorists drive past a campaign billboard in Giza for the Egyptian parliamentary elections. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
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Egypt Begins Voting in Parliamentary Elections

Motorists drive past a campaign billboard in Giza for the Egyptian parliamentary elections. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Motorists drive past a campaign billboard in Giza for the Egyptian parliamentary elections. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Egyptians head to the polls on Monday to elect a new parliament.

The opening of polling stations at 9:00 am (0700 GMT) marks the start of a weeks-long process to fill 568 of the 596 seats in the lower house, with some provinces not voting for another two weeks.

The remaining 28 lawmakers will be appointed directly by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Egyptians abroad cast their ballots on Friday and Saturday. In regions such as Alexandria, voters have until Tuesday to cast their ballots in a first round. Some regions including Cairo will not vote until November 24.

Final results are expected by December 25.

Half of the seats will be filled through closed party lists and the other half by individual candidates, with a quarter of the seats reserved for women.

The parliamentary vote comes more than two months after elections for the senate, the upper chamber, which saw a low turnout of about 17 percent.

The pro-government "National List for Egypt" coalition swept that vote, running unopposed in the party list race.

The coalition is expected to dominate again.

The pro-Sisi Mostaqbal Watan (Nation's Future) party and the National Front party -- headed by former minister Essam al-Gazzar -- lead the 12-member coalition.

Gazzar's newly formed party brings together former government officials and has the financial backing of business tycoon Ibrahim al-Organi.

Opposition groups, meanwhile, remain divided. Some parties are running independently while others have joined pro-government lists.