Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Sheikh Qassem: Resistance is a source of power for Lebanon that must be preserved.
Sheikh Qassem: "Israel" must implement the agreement as Lebanon has already done so, and any new accord would amount to absolving it and opening the door to further attacks.
Sheikh Qassem: We do not wish to assume anyone's role; those accusing us of this must cease their accusations.
Sheikh Qassem: We will recover our lands through national solidarity; Resistance's goal is national liberation, while enemy goal is occupation.
Sheikh Qassem: Protection of sovereignty protects Lebanon. It is in real danger because of US belligerence, greedy Israeli expansion.
Qassem to Lebanese people: We are not asking for support but for us not to be stabbed in the back in the back or for some to serve Israeli interests; government is primary party responsible for [preservation of] sovereignty.
Sheikh Qassem: "Israel" can occupy, but it cannot persist in occupation of our land.
Sheikh Qassem: Intimidation will not change our stance of resistance and steadfastness. We are not advocates of surrender or defeat, and we will never accept it.
Sheikh Qassem: Where does US stand regarding enemy's unjustified assassination of a government worker and other civilian martyrs?
Sheikh Qassem: Is the Lebanese Army's defense of its land and citizens an accusation [leveled against it]? Where does US stand regarding the enemy's killing of civilians and constant destruction?

US halts $130 million in military aid to Egypt

  • By Al Mayadeen net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 29 Jan 2022 10:17
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

The withholding of aid comes after human rights groups called on the US to block the aid following Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's crackdown on dissent.

  • x
  • US denies aid to Egypt
    Hosni Mubarak with Joe Biden in 2010 (AFP)

According to US State Department officials, the current US administration is preparing to withhold Egypt $130 million in military aid for "human rights concerns" and Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's tightening crackdown on dissent in recent years.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated in September that funding would be withdrawn if Egypt did not meet particular human-rights-related criteria imposed by Washington, which activists claim included the release of some political prisoners.

Rights organizations have urged the administration to halt all foreign military aid to Egypt's regime under Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

A State Department official told reporters that "While the Secretary has not made the final decision, if there are not major developments over the next couple of days, the Secretary will re-program the $130 million to other national security priorities as he previewed in September."

According to a congressional research study, the amount of $1.3 billion has been allocated to Egypt annually since 2017. 

However, Friday's statement comes after the administration authorized the prospective sale of air defense radars and C-130 Super Hercules planes to Egypt earlier this week for a total value of more than $2.5 billion, calling in question the withholding of funds.

Sarah Holewinski, Washington director at Human Rights Watch called Egypt's human rights record "atrocious," adding that given the US arms sale of $2.5 billion, the withholding of funds is "not much more than a slap on the wrist."

In their best interest

Related News

Republican lawmakers question Trump plan to sell Alaskan LNG to China

US aggression endangers Lebanon’s sovereignty, Sheikh Qassem says

According to US authorities, Egypt is a critical friend for the US, and Washington has pledged to support it for its "legitimate defense needs." They also claim that the $2.5 billion transaction is in the best interests of the United States.

A State Department official said, "They're sort of emblematic in the types of things we would like to see Egypt procuring because these are things that have direct relations to U.S. security interests more broadly."

Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat and supporter of President Joe Biden, applauded the decision, saying Sisi had failed to satisfy the administration's "narrow and wholly realistic human rights conditions."

In a statement, Murphy explained that it sends an important message that the US "will back up our commitment to human rights with action and gone are the days where dictators receive blank checks from America."

There are no official data on prisoners, but rights organizations estimate that tens of thousands have been imprisoned on security-related offenses as Sisi tightens his grip. According to human rights organizations, the vast majority of them are still imprisoned.

Former army chief Sisi has received years of condemnation from activists and some international leaders, including Biden, for cracking down on dissent since taking office in 2014 after guiding the overthrow of elected President Mohamed Morsi.

Double standards 

Although the US claims it is halting the transaction due to Human rights concerns, it seems unbothered by the massacre in Yemen executed by Saudi Arabia. Considering the US arms sales amounted to $3 billion in five years from 2015 till 2020, also agreeing to sell over $64.1 billion worth of weapons to Riyadh, which is around $10.7 billion annually. 

Read more: US Arms in Saudi's Pool of Blood: The Yemeni Massacre

The most notorious state for its blatant disregard of any human rights is "Israel," yet that did not stop the US from approving $1 billion for "Israel's" Iron Dome in 2021.

Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham announced that "Israel" would request $1 billion in emergency military aid from the United States to replenish the Israeli occupation forces' ammunition stockpile following the aggression on Gaza.

According to the Israeli website Walla, Israeli officials confirmed Graham's words, saying that "Israel" needs aid to replenish its stockpile of bunker-buster missiles and precision-guided missiles for aircraft and replenish their stockpile of Iron Dome interceptor missiles.

The Biden Administration had approved a $735 million arms sale to "Israel" in the wake of the war on Gaza, the bulk of the deal being "Joint Direct Attack Munitions," which are groups that convert the so-called unguided bombs into precision-guided missiles.

  • Hosni Mubarak
  • US President Joe Biden
  • Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
  • Egypt
  • United States

Most Read

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Hi-tech holocaust: Microsoft’s role in Gaza genocide

Microsoft's role in world’s first AI-driven genocide, in Gaza, exposed

  • Technology
  • 28 Oct 2025
Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with Al-Manar TV, October 26, 2025 (Screenshot)

Hezbollah ready to face 'Israel' in case of war: Sheikh Naim Qassem

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
The secret cloud deal: Google and Amazon “winking” pact with 'Israel'

With a 'wink', Israeli control over Google, Amazon cloud data exposed

  • Technology
  • 29 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
ap
Politics

Hamas calls on int’l community to act against Israeli settlement plan

In this Nov. 9, 2017, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, right, chats with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AP)
Economy

Ex-US diplomat says Trump-Xi deal 'tactical retreat', not lasting deal

An unarmed Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missile launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, during a test in 2002. (US Air Force)
Politics

JD Vance defends Trump's nuclear test plan as 'crucial for security'

Ultra-Orthodox Jews attend the "million man" protest against military conscription, in occupied al-Quds, October 30, 2025 (AFP)
Politics

Haredi mass rally in al-Quds exposes Zionist regime's growing crisis

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS