Egypt warns of “fury” over security breaches
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Thursday his country will "hit with an iron fist anyone who messes with its national security." "Egypt will not allow the presence of anti-peace powers on its territories," Mubarak said in a veiled attack on Hizbullah. The president was speaking to troops stationed in the Red Sea city of Ismailia on the occasion of the liberation of the Sinai Peninsula in 1979.
Mubarak also called for an end to the exploitation of the plight of the Palestinian people.
Earlier this month, Egyptian security officials said 25 members of an alleged Hizbullah cell had been arrested. Official media have reported that a Lebanese commander of the group admitted to plotting attacks on resorts in Egypt.
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah confirmed that the man, identified as Sami Shihab, was a Hizbullah agent but denied that he was planning to carry out any attacks in Egypt. He said Shihab had been tasked with providing logistical assistance to Palestinian resistance fighters in the Gaza Strip.
Mubarak accused "certain forces" in the Middle East of attempting to harm Egypt”s security, adding that the country”s enemies were cynically taking advantage of the Palestinians for their own narrow interests.
"We are aware of your plans … We will expose your plot and catch you," he vowed. "Stop [exploiting] the Palestinian issue and be warned of Egypt”s fury."