US delivering 8 newer F-16 warplanes to Egypt

The U.S. had suspended its annual military aid to Egypt soon after President Mohamed Morsi was ousted in a military coup two years ago, but resumed it earlier this year.

Cairo had previously said it would also be prepared to commit ground troops if required.

Egypt will take delivery of eight F-16 fighter jets from the United States as part of a $1.3 billion military package.

The announcement comes five months after US President Barack Obama lifted a hold on fighter deliveries that had been in place since Egypt’s military coup in October 2013, which overthrew the Muslim Brotherhood amid mass protests. The U.S. will deliver four more F-16s this fall. Washington had already delivered 10 Apache helicopters in December.

The statement on its website said the eight F-16 Block 52 aircrafts will be flown in directly from the United States and arrive at an air base outside Cairo by Friday.

“The F-16s provide a valuable capability that is needed during these times of regional instability”, the statement quoted senior embassy defence official Major General Charles Hooper as saying.

“In this way, we will ensure that U.S. funding is being used to promote shared objectives in the region, including a secure and stable Egypt and the defeat of terrorist organizations”, National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said in a statement, via Reuters.

Egypt is battling a wave of militancy in the Sinai peninsula, where militant attacks have intensified following Mursi’s ouster in 2013.