Khaberni - Israeli media has shed light once again on the growing Egyptian military capabilities and movements associated with bolstering the military presence in Sinai, reflecting a state of concern within Israeli security and political circles.
The Israeli platform "News1" published a report discussing Israeli security assessments of Egyptian military capabilities, claiming that decision-makers in Tel Aviv are closely monitoring the development and modernization activities of the Egyptian army over recent years.
According to the report, some Israeli estimates believe that the scale of arming and training the Egyptian army exceeds the needs associated with traditional threats at the western or southern borders, prompting Israeli circles to question the long-term strategic goals of these capabilities.
The report alleged that the Israeli security establishment is closely monitoring Egyptian military movements in Sinai, alongside developments in infrastructure and logistical and military capabilities, amidst escalating tensions in the region since the outbreak of war in the Gaza Strip and the widening scope of regional conflicts.
The report noted that Israel is sensitive to any military changes in areas near its borders, particularly in the Sinai Peninsula, which is subject to special security arrangements under the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty signed in 1979. Despite this, Cairo and Tel Aviv have conducted extensive security coordination over the past years to combat extremist organizations in the region.
These reports come at a time when the region is experiencing rapid security transformations, prompting several countries to review their defence strategies and boost their military capabilities to face emerging challenges and threats.
Observers believe that Israeli concerns over the growing military strength of Egypt are not new but date back decades. Given its size, capabilities, and Egypt's geopolitical position, the Egyptian army remains one of the most significant military forces in the Middle East, continually monitored by research centers and Israeli security agencies.
Egypt and Israel are linked by the peace treaty signed in 1979, which ended the state of war between the two countries and established special security arrangements in the Sinai Peninsula.
Over the past decade, Egypt has implemented a wide-ranging program to modernize its armed forces, which included developing weapon systems, military bases, and strategic infrastructure, as part of a declared strategy aimed at protecting Egyptian national security and securing borders across different strategic directions, amid challenges faced in the region, whether in Libya, Sudan, the Red Sea, or the Eastern Mediterranean.
