Cairo, Egypt – In a coordinated move with Israel, Egypt has released a military force of several hundred to the Egypt/Israeli border at Taba to prevent terror missile attacks on flights landing in the town of Eilat.
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According to The Times of Israel (http://bit.ly/1mHC6lb) Egypt is worried that al-Qaeda affiliates in the Sinai Peninsula are targeting civilian flights approaching landing in the resort town.
An Egyptian military helicopter was brought down in January by SA-7 anti-aircraft missiles used by jihadist group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis. Five officers aboard the helicopter were killed.
Since that attack, Israel, Egypt and Jordan have concerns that civilian aircraft could be targeted.
Jihadist groups also used SA-7 missiles in August 2011 in an attack on an Israeli bus near Eilat.
It’s quite impressive to me that Egypt and Israel and Jordan would cooperate in this manner. It gives me hope.