Several opposition sources confirm the widespread November 2, Pro-Syrian media reports that troops from Egypt arrived at the Russian naval base in Tartus. It is noted that a group of Egyptian officers, like, they will gain experience in operational planning and tactical methods of warfare, etc.
Earlier, Pro-Syrian sources reported that the official purpose of the Egyptians — the passage of military training under the guidance of Russian advisers. Then in the military of Egypt, Syria and Russia this information has not commented.
We will remind, in October, Russian paratroopers held in Egypt, the first ever joint exercise “Defenders of friendship in 2016.” Place the maneuvers began near the town of El Alamein on the Mediterranean sea. The military practiced destroying illegal armed formations in the desert. According to the official version of the exercise, Moscow and Cairo are concerned about the situation in the North of the Sinai Peninsula, where terrorists regularly commit high-profile attacks. In the skies over the Sinai on October 31, 2015 the explosion destroyed the Airbus A320 airline “Kogalymavia”, EN route from Sharm El Sheikh to Saint Petersburg. Responsibility for the attack, then claimed “Islamic state”.
Interestingly, before the teachings of the French Bulletin “Intelligence online” has reported that the government of Egypt by the Russian Ministry of defense (special operations Forces) were also invited to take the training of the Egyptian special forces, which operates in the Sinai Peninsula. According to the publication, several instructors of special forces, which could be related to the GRU, has allegedly been present in the country.
However, French media drew attention to the behavior of Cairo to the UN he voted in the Security Council in two resolutions on Aleppo — Russian and French, which absolutely contradicted each other. This is a deeply annoyed Riyadh, which is kind of like even threatened the regime of President al-Sisi to stop supporting the Egyptian pound, as well as to ban Saudi company Aramco to supply crude oil to the country. As noted by the publication “Intelligence online”, the Egyptian President al-Sisi continues to get closer to Russia, with which it shares the assessment of the situation in the region, but at the same time cannot renounce Saudi assistance. For example, 8 April 2016 during the visit of the king of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdul-Aziz in Cairo signed an agreement on the recognition of the two Islands of Tiran and Sanafir in the Red sea territory of the KSA.
How to interpret the possible arrival of Egyptian officers to Tartus? Because technically the other players in the region can be regarded such a step as joining Cairo to prairiesky coalition…
Confirmation of this information no, but theoretically the arrival of a group of officers of the armed forces of Egypt to Syria is quite possible, says RIAC expert and Middle East Institute Sergey Balmasov.
— And this is particularly surprising: the conflict in Syria is in its sixth year and the study of combat experience is a mandatory thing at the regional level. At the moment it is unknown who exactly arrived in Tartous, for war, and profits at all? Given the region, it is possible that this may be a double agent… But, in principle, the Egyptians can really study the situation. Especially that Egypt has somewhat similar problems for its security services and the army is a big problem combating the terrorist threat in the Sinai Peninsula.
Despite all the efforts of the Egyptian security forces and their enormous numerical and technical superiority, they are unable to cope with the gang. And okay, if the fighting was in urban guerrilla warfare in densely populated areas, where it is necessary to carry out Stripping without the use of aircraft, but in reality we are talking about a sparsely populated area. However, the Egyptians did not manage to clear the area of terrorists. Moreover, the area of their control is expanding, and gradually they begin to attack the cities.
And it is not only ineffective raids, the Egyptian air force on the positions of militants, and the deplorable state of the economy, and — difficulties in relations with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other external forces. The fall of the Egyptian pound only spurs militants to fight against the current regime. And not yet solved problems with the economy in place of one of the slain militants will appear the other…
But interestingly, against the background of deteriorating economic situation in Egypt, Russia is pursuing a policy of rapprochement. Moreover, among our politicians, you can hear the calls to help the government of al-Sisi and participate in the fight against terrorism and even in the Sinai. It is important to understand who theoretically, such an interaction will be paid and what our strategy against terrorism?..
From al-Sisi has long had a more lenient attitude to Assad than the rest of the Sunni regimes. However, his relations with Saudi Arabia and Qatar currently going through hard days. It is necessary to understand that Egypt is recent years has been on the full content of first Qatar during the “Muslim brotherhood”, then — in the KSA. Question — if Russia plans to boost cooperation with Egypt, as we say, some “hot heads” if it is ready to support it financially? For example, “Slivnica” Egypt to throw off from the shoulders — not a disaster, but the question arises from the Suez canal. But if necessary, the tankers can be sent and bypassing Africa…
Senior lecturer in the Department of political science, higher school of Economics, the Arabist Leonid Isaev noted that Egypt continues the policy of maneuvering, but understands that his interaction with Saudi Arabia in any case preferable.
Riyadh Cairo provides loans, around which the economy of the government of al-Sisi. There are well aware that the money that they have taken, in the future will not be enough, and with an outstretched hand will have to go more than one year. A quarrel with the States, which is money, is the most irrational that can be.
Another thing is that building the economy through our long-term loans al-Sisi is trying with anyone, especially not to interfere and to respect certain red lines that cannot be crossed. That is, the observance of the principle “one to become friends with others not to quarrel”.
Maybe that’s the cause of nod in our direction. Especially now that is clear — the Assad regime in certain territories will remain in power. It is clear that the Syrians lost territory Syrian Kurds are unlikely to return province of Idlib, and Aleppo from the East is not yet clear. But the fact that the Assad regime in certain areas managed to survive and will to manage them, from the perspective of Egypt is the reason for the overtures to Damascus and along with his allies.
This, again, the Egyptians clearly show that they are ready to work with everyone — Americans, Europeans, Saudis, Russians, etc, with those who could potentially give money. Principles of conducting foreign policy here — it’s secondary. I especially do not be surprised if Cairo will agree to work with Iran, which suddenly agree to lend…
Egypt has now started the implementation of a huge number of very large infrastructure projects (of course, other people’s money) that will pay off soon. Therefore al-Sisi’s important to have as much room to maneuver — even interacting with countries that are opposed to each other. For him this is vital: if the course is on the implementation of major projects, as a symbol of the acceleration of the economy, work, al-Sisi will stay in power. If not, the consequences could be serious — the current President is not the person the military would be afraid to touch…
