The UAE Ministry of Defense has announced that it is conducting logistical support flights to support the efforts of the international community, led by France, to combat terrorism in the Sahel region of Africa and re-establish security and stability.

The departure of the first flight from Abu Dhabi took place in the presence of Lt. General Saleh Mohammad Saleh Al Ameri, Commander of Joint Operations at the Ministry of Defense, and Xavier Chatel, French Ambassador to the UAE.

In a statement, Lt. General Al Ameri affirmed that the UAE is keen to help ensure security and stability in the Sahel region, Emirates news agency WAM reported.

Chatel thanked the UAE for supporting the efforts of the international community and France to bring back stability to the Sahel region.

The UAE Armed Forces has several flights scheduled to transport humanitarian aid, given its extensive regional and international humanitarian experience.

In another development, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and President of Egypt Abdel Fatah el-Sisi, reviewed in Cairo Saturday the deeply rooted fraternal relations between the two nations and prospects of accelerating cooperation and consolidating joint action across all fronts.

This came as the Egyptian President welcomed Sheikh Mohamed and his accompanying delegation, where they deliberated the latest regional and international developments of interest in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the latest developments of the global battle against COVID-19 and the two countries’ efforts to stem the fallout of the pandemic.

Sheikh Mohamed re-affirmed the UAE’s determination to maintain continual channels of coordination and discussions with Egypt regarding ways of addressing regional issues and crises.

For his part, the Egyptian President emphasized on Egypt’s commitment to its firm and principled position toward the security of the Gulf and its rejection of all practices that threaten its stability.

He added that Sheikh Mohamed’s visit gives further impetus to the longstanding and strategic relations between the two countries and consolidates their joint action to the best interest of their peoples and their ambitions for more development and prosperity.

El-Sisi hosted an Iftar (Ramadan) banquet in the honor of Sheikh Mohamed and his accompanying delegation, who comprised H.H. Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports Company, Ali bin Hammad Al Shamsi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohammed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Undersecretary of the Crown Prince’s Court of Abu Dhabi, and Dr. Hamad Al Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Egypt and Permanent Representative to the Arab League.