Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi praised on Friday the armed forces and police in their duty to protect the people and nation.
“The Egyptian people have complete trust in the army and police in their fight against terrorism,” he declared.
Sisi, armed forces commander Sodqi Sobhi and Interior Minister Majdi Abdulghaffar had met with several armed forces leaders after Friday prayers at a mosque in eastern Cairo as part of Egypt’s commemoration of Martyrs’ Day
Discussions tackled internal and foreign affairs and the ongoing Sinai 2018 operation to expel terrorists from Sinai.
The offensive was kicked off on February 9 with the participation of the military and police. Sisi had in November tasked the armed forces to “use all force” to uproot terror.
The army announced on Thursday that 105 terrorists have been killed and 2,829 criminals, “takfiris” and fugitives have been arrested in the operation.
Separately, Egyptian authorities released 645 detainees after a presidential pardon on the occasion of Police Day and the January revolution anniversary.
Sisi had in October 2016 ordered the formation of a committee to review various cases linked to youth detainees.