Egyptian naval exercise fails to impress

摘要

The Egyptian Navy has demonstrated its naval capabilities three weeks after President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi threatened to intervene in Libya: a move likely to be countered by Turkey. The naval drills were part of a the larger 'Hazm 2020' exercise in western Egypt and included an opposed amphibious assault. The video of the naval aspects of the exercise, released by the Ministry of Defence on 11 July, began with an excerpt from the speech Sisi gave at Sidi Barrani Air Base in western Egypt on 20 June. "Be ready to execute any mission within our borders or beyond if needed," he said. Referring to recent advances by Libya's Turkish-backed Government of National Accord against the Egyptian-backed Libyan National Army, he added, "If some think they can cross the line, Sirte or Al-Jufrah [in central Libya], to us that is a red line."