Egyptian top diplomat says Egypt is against terrorist groups that use religion as a cover for its activities
US Secretary of State John Kerry Saturday said Egypt was on the “frontline of fighting terrorism” as he met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in his effort to build a broad coalition against Islamic State terrorists who have seized large chunks of land in Iraq and Syria.
Kerry, who arrived here as part of a regional tour, met Sisi after meeting Arab League chief Nabil el-Arabi, who said that Arab states have vowed to confront extremism in the region, politically, economically, militarily and culturally.
The US is drumming up support from Arab governments for its campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or ISIL.
“We are in a joint battle against terrorism. Egypt is on the frontline of fighting terrorism, particularly when it comes to fighting extremist groups in Sinai,” Kerry said at a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry after meeting Sisi.
For the US, Cairo’s involvement in the coalition may help improve the strained ties between the traditional allies and also earn it the approval of Egypt’s religious institutions.
The ties soured last year after the army overthrew elected Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and cracked down on his supporters. The US then suspended some military aid, but later restored them.
Sisi, Morsi’s successor, is fighting Islamist militants in the restive Sinai Peninsula who have expressed support for the IS.
Kerry, who flew in to Cairo from Ankara, said terroristic groups such as the IS has no place in modern society.
“We will continue working with Egypt to achieve stability in the region,” said Kerry.
During the conference, Shoukry said Egypt is against terrorist groups that use religion as a cover for its activities.
“We support all the international efforts to end terrorism,” said Shoukry.
The US has appointed John Allen, former commander in Afghanistan and Iraq, to head its campaign against the militant group that beheaded two American journalists.
After increasing criticism for not taking swifter action, US President Barack Obama has set out a four-point strategy to “degrade and finally destroy” the militant group, which the CIA estimates has 20,000 to 31,500 fighters in its ranks in Iraq and Syria.
The US involvement comes three years after the end of the nearly nine-year US military presence in Iraq.