By Hend Kortam, Aswat Masriya Based on UN Charter Article 51 which Russian President Vladimir Putin invoked Tuesday after announcing that the downing of the Russian plane was an act of terror, Russia can strike ISIS strongholds wherever they may be. Former Egyptian ambassador to Russia Ezzat Saad told Aswat Masriya on Wednesday that the Russians can strike ISIS strongholds in coordination with the Egyptian army. This could potentially include Sinai in Egypt and other ISIS strongholds in the region. On Oct. 31, a plane operated by the Russian Metrojet airline crashed in the Egyptian Sinai desert, killing all 224 passengers and crew who were mostly Russian holiday makers. Egypt has since had to grapple with the dire consequences of the tragic incident, which put airport security under heavy scrutiny, taking a toll on the vital tourism sector. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi led a meeting of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces on Wednesday. The Egyptian presidency said in an ensuing statement that the meeting addressed “internal security developments … especially in Sinai.” This meeting comes one day after Russia said it found traces of explosives in the debris. The Egyptian state…
What Will Russia’s Appeal to UN Charter ‘Right to Self-Defence’ Article 51 Mean for Egypt?
November 19, 2015
