US CENTCOM chief discusses Gaza ceasefire efforts with Egypt’s army chief

By Hussien Elkabany and Betul Yilmaz

CAIRO / ISTANBUL (AA) – The commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, held talks in Cairo on Thursday with Egypt’s Army Chief Ahmed Khalifa to discuss efforts to consolidate a Gaza ceasefire agreement.

An Egyptian military statement said the meeting addressed a number of issues of mutual interest and regional developments, “including the Egyptian-American joint efforts to stabilize a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and intensify the flow of humanitarian aid under the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Agreement.”

The ceasefire has been in place in Gaza since Oct. 10, mediated by Türkiye, Egypt, and Qatar, and backed by the US. The deal halted two years of Israeli attacks that have killed more than 70,000 people, mostly women and children, and injured nearly 171,000 others in Gaza since October 2023.

Khalifa and Cooper also discussed ways to strengthen military cooperation between the US and Egypt “in a way that achieves the common interests of both friendly countries,” the statement said.

The CENTCOM chief emphasized the important role played by Egypt in consolidating peace and stability in the region, the statement added.