Unlikely alliance: Israel conducted over 100 airstrikes in Egypt – with permission

Unlikely alliance: Israel conducted over 100 airstrikes in Egypt – with permission
https://www.conservativeinstitute.org/foreign-policy/unlikely-alliance-israel-egypt.htm
February 5, 2018
Unlikely alliance: Israel conducted over 100 airstrikes in Egypt – with permission
Israel Defense Forces / CCL
The New York Times recently disclosed that for the last two years, Israel has been carrying out massive airstrikes within the Egyptian border. And it’s been doing so with Cairo’s consent.

The Israeli military has deployed unmarked drones, fighter jets and helicopter gunships to carry out more than 100 airstrikes within Egypt’s Sinai desert region.

Former enemies now allies
Sworn enemies for decades, Israel initiated the airstrikes to take out a foe common to both the Jewish state and Egypt.

Its target? Islamic State militants.

The Times reported:

The jihadists in Egypt’s Northern Sinai had killed hundreds of soldiers and police officers, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, briefly seized a major town and begun setting up armed checkpoints to claim territory. In late 2015, they brought down a Russian passenger jet.

Egypt appeared unable to stop them, so Israel, alarmed at the threat just over the border, took action.

Old sentiments die hard
From the 1947-1949 War of Independence to the Yom Kippur War of 1973 and beyond, Israel and Egypt had been at near-continuous war with one another.
Distrust between Israelis and Egyptians runs deep. For that reason secrecy was paramount.
According to the Times:
Both neighbors have sought to conceal Israel’s role in the airstrikes for fear of a backlash inside Egypt, where government officials and the state-controlled media continue to discuss Israel as a nemesis and pledge fidelity to the Palestinian cause.
The Israeli drones are unmarked, and the Israeli jets and helicopters cover up their markings. Some fly circuitous routes to create the impression that they are based in the Egyptian mainland, according to American officials briefed on their operations. In Israel, military censors restrict public reports of the airstrikes.
No official confirmation
The New York Times based its report upon interviews with seven current and former British and U.S. officials involved in Middle East policy. They only agreed to speak to the paper on condition of anonymity.