Country Reports on Terrorism 2016 - Terrorist Safe Havens: Egypt
| Publisher | United States Department of State |
| Publication Date | 19 July 2017 |
| Cite as | United States Department of State, Country Reports on Terrorism 2016 - Terrorist Safe Havens: Egypt, 19 July 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5981e400a.html [accessed 8 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Portions of Egypt's Sinai region remained a safe haven for terrorist organizations in 2016. For most of the year, the situation in Sinai continued as a low-grade armed conflict involving forces linked to external terrorist movements and those with longstanding local grievances. The December 2016 suicide-bombing of a Coptic church in Cairo, for which ISIS claimed responsibility, has created increased concern that ISIS is making greater efforts to carry out terrorist attacks on mainland Egypt.
The Egyptian army has increased combat operations in northeastern Sinai but was not able to defeat fewer than 1000 ISIL-Sinai Province (ISIL-SP) fighters. Successful airstrikes in the Sinai, however, have removed key terrorist leadership, including ISIL-SP Sinai leader Abu Duaa Al-Ansari, although ISIL-SP quickly reconstituted its leadership after these airstrikes.
The United States supported Egypt's efforts to combat ISIL-SP by providing Apache helicopters, Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, counter-improvised explosive devices training, mobile sensor towers, and border security training programs. The United States intensified military-military discussions on how it can help Egypt defeat the group. The United States remained concerned about the deteriorating security situation and potential impacts on the Multinational Force and Observers peacekeeping mission in the Sinai.
Through the Department of State's Export Control and Related Border Security Program, the United States worked with the Government of Egypt to enhance its border security capabilities through the provision of land, air, and maritime border enforcement and targeting and risk management training for Egyptian Customs, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Transportation, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials. In addition, since 2009, the Department of State's Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund has assisted Egypt with the provision of passenger and cargo vehicle x-ray detection equipment with the capability to inspect vehicular and truck traffic at fixed transportation checkpoints for weapons of mass destruction-related materials, conventional weapons, and other illicit items.
