Egypt can invade Algeria in three days, Al-Sisi warns

The Egyptian presidential hopeful, former Minister of Defense and leader of the July 3 military coup Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi said Thursday that the Egyptian army is capable of invading Algeria “in three days,” Algerian media reported.

According to the Algerian news website Al-Shorouk Online, Sisi told an audience of University teaching staff that the Egyptian army is capable of protecting the western borders against any assault by the so-called Free Egyptian Army.

“The Egyptian army is strong… before anyone is hurt on the western borders, the army will be there. This is a warning to the Free Army. And if anything happens, I can invade Algeria in three days, if any Egyptian person is harmed,” Sisi said.

The remarks sparked astonishment of Algerian media. “Did he mean that the Egyptian armed forces are able to defeat any other army, including the Algerian one?” Al-Shorouk newspaper wondered. “Or is he sending a message to Libya, considered as a base for the so-called the Free Egyptian Army, since it is located between Egypt and Algeria?”

The Algerian website considered Sisi’s remarks as “an insult to Algerian people, government, and army.”