Escalating Tensions: Egypt’s Increasing Military Poses Direct Threat to Israel

Escalating Tensions: Egypt’s Increasing Military Poses Direct Threat to Israel

Edited by: TJVNews.com

Recent developments have heightened tensions between Israel and Egypt, as Israel has formally requested explanations from Egypt regarding a substantial increase in Egyptian military activity within the Sinai Peninsula. In early January of this year, All Israel News reported that according to Channel 14, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have identified significant breaches of the 1979 peace treaty, including the construction of anti-tank barriers, extensive logistical preparations, and the deployment of entire armored divisions in central Sinai.

The 1979 peace agreement between Israel and Egypt mandated the demilitarization of the Sinai Peninsula, a region that Israel returned to Egypt as part of the treaty’s terms. However, the emergence of ISIS as a significant threat in the area led Israel to permit Egypt to amass considerable military forces near their shared border to combat the jihadist insurgency, as was reported by AllIsrael.com in early January. This cooperation was intended to address mutual security concerns without undermining the foundational principles of their peace accord.

Retired IDF Lieutenant Colonel Eli Dekel has consistently voiced concerns over the years about the escalating threat posed by the Egyptian military. According to the information provided in the report on Allisrael.com, since President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi assumed power, Egypt’s military has expanded by approximately 60,000 soldiers, with its strategic orientation suggesting that it perceives Israel as its primary adversary. This perspective is further supported by Egypt’s extensive military acquisitions and infrastructure projects.

The Egyptian Armed Forces, already among the largest in the region, are currently engaged in a massive procurement drive accompanied by significant infrastructure development. As per the report on AllIsrael.com, Egypt has constructed an extensive network of roads and bridges, established numerous crossing points over the Suez Canal, and acquired hundreds of tank transporters. These developments enable rapid reinforcement of troops in the Sinai Peninsula, thereby enhancing Egypt’s strategic flexibility in the region.

Despite a decision by the previous Biden administration to reallocate $95 million in military aid from Egypt to Lebanon—part of an annual aid package totaling $1.3 billion—Egypt’s military buildup shows no signs of slowing. This reduction is likely intended as a signal to Egypt, especially considering that the U.S. State Department previously indicated that a portion of the aid package was contingent upon Egypt’s progress in releasing political prisoners, as was indicated in the AllIsrael.com report.

Nevertheless, in December, the State Department approved an additional $4.69 billion in weapons sales to Egypt. This package includes 555 U.S.-made M1A1 Abrams tanks, 2,183 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles valued at $630 million, and $30 million in precision-guided munitions, highlighting the ongoing military collaboration between the two nations.

In close proximity to the Israeli border, Channel 14 reported that the IDF has uncovered additional tunnels extending from the Sinai under the Philadelphi Corridor into the Gaza Strip. AllIsrael.com reported that during recent conflicts, over ten such tunnels were reportedly discovered, some located dozens of meters underground and stretching over a kilometer into Egyptian territory. These findings illustrate the persistent security challenges in the area and raise concerns about the potential for smuggling and militant infiltration.

Recent statements from Egyptian military sources, cited by the Qatari news channel al-Arab, have accused Israel of deliberately provoking Egypt by refusing to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategic buffer zone along the Egypt-Gaza border, as was indicated in the AllIsrael.com report. These claims come amid escalating tensions between the two countries, with Egypt simultaneously accusing Israel of violating the 1979 Camp David peace treaty while maintaining that its increased military presence in the Sinai Peninsula was pre-approved by Israel to combat terrorism.

According to al-Arab, Egyptian sources argue that Israel has falsely justified its continued presence in the Philadelphi Corridor by claiming to have found smuggling tunnels—despite allegedly failing to provide evidence of any such tunnels in the area. However, AllIsrael.com reported that Israeli security officials dispute this, maintaining that tunnels have been uncovered and that continued military operations along the Gaza-Egypt border are necessary for security reasons.

The Philadelphi Corridor has been a focal point of Israeli-Egyptian security coordination since the 2005 Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Under the Camp David Accords, Egypt was permitted only a limited military presence in Sinai to ensure the region remained a demilitarized buffer zone. However, over the years, particularly following the rise of ISIS-affiliated insurgents, Israel allowed Egypt to increase its military presence in the region under the justification of counterterrorism operations.

The report on AllIsrael.com said that despite this agreement, Israeli analysts now warn that Egypt’s military buildup in Sinai—rather than being solely aimed at combating terrorists—may be part of a broader strategic shift that poses a direct threat to Israel.

Israeli journalist Tamir Morag, a diplomatic correspondent for Channel 14, has described the situation as one that “has been neglected for years but is now keeping senior political and defense leadership awake at night,” according to the AllIsrael.com report.

Morag argued that Egypt has exploited the peace agreement to build one of the most formidable military forces in the Middle East. His concerns center on Egypt’s massive expansion of its armed forces—fueled by billions of dollars in U.S. military aid—and its continued focus on training scenarios that simulate an invasion of Israel.

“Right under our noses, under the guise of the peace agreement (a term that perhaps should now be placed in quotation marks), Egypt has built a formidable military,” Morag stated, as was cited in the AllIsrael.com report. “This military is based on American weapons received as part of the agreement, and all of its training exercises simulate scenarios of an invasion of Israel.”

Despite its severe economic crisis—with 117 million citizens facing widespread poverty—Egypt has prioritized a massive expansion of its military, navy, and air force. The report on AllIsrael.com indicated that Morag pointed out that Egypt’s military arsenal now includes advanced American, Russian, and French weaponry, making it one of the most powerful forces in the region. Equipped with F-16s, Su-35s, MiG-29s, Mirage 2000s, and Dassault Rafales, Egypt now possesses an aerial combat force capable of challenging the Israeli Air Force. Egypt has developed a blue-water navy with Mistral-class helicopter carriers, submarines, and advanced frigates, allowing it to project power in the Mediterranean and Red Sea. The Egyptian army has acquired hundreds of M1A1 Abrams tanks from the U.S., modern artillery systems, and a network of roads and bridges designed to rapidly deploy forces toward Israel’s border.

Morag warns that this expansion is not merely defensive but serves a clear strategic purpose: Speaking to AllIsrael.com, Morag said, “This entire military force, which repeatedly violates and erodes the Camp David Accords, trains for one purpose: war with Israel.”

The growing Egyptian military presence near Israel’s borders has fueled speculation within Israeli security circles about Cairo’s true strategic intentions. The accusations that Israel is “deliberately provoking Egypt” could indicate a shift in Egyptian rhetoric, possibly aimed at justifying continued military expansion.

While Egypt and Israel have enjoyed a four-decade peace since the signing of the Camp David Accords, the current situation is testing the limits of that agreement. Israel’s security establishment is now facing a growing dilemma: Should it tolerate Egypt’s military buildup in Sinai in the hope of maintaining stability? Or should it confront Egypt diplomatically—or even militarily—before the balance of power shifts further?

With Egyptian military exercises simulating war against Israel, and diplomatic tensions escalating over the Philadelphi Corridor, the peace between Cairo and Jerusalem appears more fragile than ever. Whether this is merely posturing or a prelude to greater conflict, Israeli defense officials will be watching closely—and preparing accordingly.