US delivers F-16s to Egypt
The United States yesterday began delivery of eight F-16 fighter jets to Egypt, according to its embassy in Cairo, the first since Washington fully lifted in March a freeze on arms delivery.
The operation comes as Secretary of State John Kerry's prepares to visit Cairo for a "strategic dialogue" Sunday amid a warming in ties that were strained after the army ousted president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.
Following the overthrow of Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected leader, Washington froze $1.3 billion (1.2 billion euros) in annual military aid to Egypt.
It fully resumed assistance in March, and Cairo took delivery of two US fast missile boats last month. Washington had already delivered 10 Apache helicopters in December.
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