Egypt’s Sisi welcomes US unblocking of F-16s

CAIRO — President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi said Washington's release to Egypt of F-16 jets and missiles will boost the fight against Islamist militants, according to a statement from his office.

The move, announced Tuesday, comes as Egypt plays a key role in the Arab offensive against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and engages in the fight against Daesh terror group in Libya.

"The resumption of American military aid to Egypt and contracted weapons deals goes towards achieving the shared strategic goals of both countries," Sisi said in a telephone conversation with Obama, according to the statement issued overnight.

That is particularly true in "efforts to combat extremists and terrorists, and secure the Sinai Peninsula," Sisi added.

Jihadists in the restive peninsula launched an insurgency that has killed scores of policemen and soldiers since the military, then led by Sisi, ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

A deadly crackdown on Morsi's followers prompted Washington to suspend the aid.

Aside from the high-tech war planes, Obama also agreed to deliver 20 Harpoon missiles and up to 125 M1A1 Abrams tank kits.

Washington has annually offered about $1.5 billion (1.4 billion euros) in aid to Egypt, including $1.3 billion in military aid.