How Egypt’s Army Smoked ISIS on their Own Territory

Over the past decade the Egyptian military has waged a major land battle against ISIS on their own territory. When Operation Eagle first kicked in August 2011 the Egyptian military deployed 2,500 troops, armored vehicles, special forces brigades, main battle tanks and attack helicopters on their own territory inside the Sinai Peninsula, largely on the sensitive border with Israel.

Written by: Chris Cappy and Diego Aceituno
Edited by: Syed

Since then the battle has extended in one form or another all the way to 2023 when it was declared over by the Egyptian government. The mission's goal was to crush ISIS militants and insurgency that had spiraled out of control threatening the region's natural resources and vital trade routes. We’ll see how over the course of a decade the Egyptian military's counterinsurgency strategy evolved, from one of brute force to collaboration with local tribes, revealing lessons about the kind of innovative steps it took to defeat a force like ISIS.

The Sinai Peninsula is often called the "Bridge Between Continents” because it connects Africa, Asia and the Middle east. It happens to be located in one of the most strategically important places in the world because it forms the eastern half of the vital Suez Canal, where about 15% of global trade passes through each year. 6.4 million barrels worth of oil transits the canal every day. Essentially a complete blockade of this route would block $9 billion dollars of commerce every day. Historically speaking the Sinai Peninsula has long served as a route for the smuggling of weapons and supplies.

The first step of Egypt’s Operation Eagle was to regain control by setting up checkpoints throughout 3 key locations. The first was Arish, then they went to secure the part of the city of Rafah that is in Egypt. Then they moved into Sheikh Zuwaid. As the Egyptian military forces of Operation Eagle crossed over into the Sinai Peninsula, many residents living there initially thought it was just another crackdown. What followed would be far more intense than that.

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#TRUESTORY #EGYPT #COMBAT

[marioashraf]

As an Egyptian, I thank you for covering this and raising awareness about this forgotten war. Rest in peace, and respect to all the Egyptian soldiers who fought in it.

[marwansallam]

Im very happy that someone is talking about this. My father served there during the highest tension and he kept reporting losses of his friends and how they finally solved it (never told me how) but cooperating with families and tribes were instrumental. He was in the police posted in Al Arish area.

[masao]

FINALLY, SOMEONE HAS COVERED THIS

I AM AN EGYPTIAN AND I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR AGES FOR SOMEONE TO FINALLY COVER THIS STORY

SA’KA 🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅



My thoughts:

This video covers the topic very well from a non-biased point of view.
However it only covers operation sinai and operation eagle, it does not cover the history of islamists and the egyptian people. This is a story that spans back to the 1900s

Here are some points that the video overlooked.

Morsi was not “affiliated” with the islamic brotherhood or associated with them. He was THE islamic brotherhood. His administration was essentially the islamic brotherhood.

When morsi took power the country was almost crippled, christians being massacred on facebook left and right, all development ceased, nothing was running anymore. Churches and mosques being blown up in “the name of allah”. Children being thrown of rooftops. Even prior to morsi, after mubarak’s fall the islamists had opened up every single prison in egypt, we were following iraq’s story bit by bit. Egypt was the wild west between mubarak and morsi, during morsi it was the sharia abiding diddy party.



The people never wanted morsi in power, and the military did not want the islamists in power. So the military hand in hand with the people overthrew morsi. I remember when i was a child during the riots against morsi, i was kidnapped during one but my dad and family took me back from my captors. God knows what would have happened to me. I remember we had my sister’s volkswagen and id be sitting on the roof of the car waving an egyptian flag amidst all the chaos, it really was a chaotic time.


When the riots ended and el sisi took power, a complete shift against the islamists happened. We were gangbanging islamists everywhere from sinai, to the western desert, east and west europe (clandestine GIS operations) until today where they squirm like worms in the dirt.


This is a war on every front, military, economic, political, and even cyber.

This was a masterclass in counter-terrorism

Edit: some updates on the islamist situation in egypt

Islamists have planted their way of thinking into almost everybody, they have corrupted islam as a religion. Unfortunately everybody subscribes to at least one or two of their ideas without even knowing it (thank you sheikh al-azhar for being a certified cuck)

Economically they control much of the businesses and money in egypt. The thing about the muslim brotherhood is that half of them are not devout muslims. There are rich boujee billionares who put diddy to shame that are affiliated with the brotherhood. Its just an organization that exists to destroy this nation. They run many of the big businesses in egypt and control most of the money, their competitor is the military in all markets

Politically, its complicated. Islamists hold almost no political power here in egypt except for one slight change as of this year.
The newly appointed minister of education (Mr mohamed abdel latif) is the founder of a prestigious school called nermein ismail. This school is also associated with islamist ideologies and generally hosts many islamist teachers and graduates. He himself is an islamist i am very sure of this. Especially when he cancelled philosophy as a subject for high school. I don’t know who appointed this guy, but i hope they know what they’re doing.


Militarily? Oh our eagles are soaring waiting for one slip up. One slip up and BOOM we get to test the new SIGs we got last year. Im genuinely waiting for them to try something.

[MagdonalNibbler]

I'm so surprised I hadn't heard about this before you made a video on it!

[samyebeid]

My paternal family is native to the city of El-Arish. Our clan, el-Fawakhriya, one of the most influential in the city took up arms and joined the army in the war against ISIS after they murdered one of the family elders for refusing to cooperate with the group in 2013. They were finally driven out of el-Arish completely by 2017.

[eu]

Thank you so much for bringing us up to speed on this forgotten war. I had no idea ISIS had been in Egypt.

[antonnurwald]

Cappy keeps covering the conflicts noone talks about. Massive props, you just keep churning these out, it's incredible.

[indianajones]

This is definitely one of your best videos so far Chris!

[FUNKER]

I'm not sure what the dunkin thing was, but I can get onboard with it. Great episode. -Ronnie

[normalplayer]

The Pharoah's curse took down ISIS

[ميزانسين]

As an Egyptian, you really did an amazing job in this video.

All the complex roots in this, the peace 1979, mubark negligence for Sinai, and 25 jan revolution.

And maybe add two aspects to you

- Egypt maybe the only country who defeated isis without any foreign troops.

- Egypt had take advantage in that to strength it army and now it the only stable country in it's borders

Thank you for your video ❤

[johnjakejoebob]

I’m always impressed with the research done. I want to say I’m impressed how this Channel finds applicable footage and great editing.

[Bruceworkouts]

Was in the Sinai in 2018 at FOB North w/ the MFO Mission. The bombing they were doing was actually wild. Nightly firefights at the BPs all around the base. Host of shenanigans all around. Also have been surprised this whole thing hasn't received more press.

[senatornoam]

Thanks for giving a thorough report on a region seldom discussed 😎👊

[ponz-]

I didn’t even know this was a thing. Thanks cappy. Also awesome seeing you one team house

[aimanmarzuqi]

This conflict is very underrated in international news cycle.

[abdullahelmadawy]

I lost my brother on that war rest in peace champ🕊

[内向的なくん]

Hey Cappie can do another analysis on the civil war in Myanmar bc it’s getting intense
Edit: also love all of your vids they are so good and the quality is amazing keep up the good work man

[hazemeid]

Egyptian here this was nearly undeclared war here it was chaos back in early 2013-2014 suicide bombings in high population density areas were a norm funerals were basically everyday churches ringing bells and muslims praying for their dead my cousin was a spec ops operator who lost his arm during a last stand against ISIS and many more tragic incidents today sinai is quiet safe and the railways are open again we pray to all our brave soldiers who gave their life for our safety and to all innocent people who lived this horror

[ghostsofVTurbexSkysthelimitvid]

I did the 6 month MFO mission with the 82nd Airborne. We were stationed at south camp near sharm el sheik, interesting times i wont ever forget.