Egypt receives 762 American MRAPs

The first shipment of the American Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles have arrived in Egypt yesterday, the US embassy in Cairo reported.

The vehicles are to be used “to combat terrorism and promote stability in the region.”

A statement issued by the embassy last night stated that a shipment of MRAPs arrived in the port of Alexandria and was delivered to the Egyptian army, whose forces in Sinai are being subjected to bombings that have killed and injured many officials.

Major General Charles Hooper, a senior defence official at the US Embassy in Egypt, said: “The delivery of these MRAPs to Egypt provides a crucial capability needed during these times of regional instability and is part of the continuing strong relationship between the US and Egypt.”

The delivery is part of the Pentagon’s Excess Defence Articles grant programme, according to which the vehicles are delivered free of charge.