SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTERMoscow has recently dispatched an estimated 22-member special forces unit to a base in western Egypt on the country’s border with Libya, a move that can exacerbate the ongoing U.S. concerns about Russia’s interference there, reports Reuters. Unnamed Egyptian sources noted that, in February, Russia used a base in Egypt, in the east in Marsa Matrouh. The U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the United States has observed what appeared to be Russian special operations forces and drones at Sidi Barrani, about 60 miles (100 km) from the Egypt-Libya border. “They’re working to influence that decision.”“It is pretty clear the Egyptians are facilitating Russian engagement in Libya by allowing them to use these bases. Reuters reports that the Kremlin’s defense ministry has declined to provide details on Kremlin’s incursion into Egypt, denying the presence of any Russian troops on Egyptian soil.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 15, 2017 03:22 UTC