Syria File Worries Cairo: Old Threats in a New Disguise

Egyptian Official Reveals His Country’s Concerns About the New Administration in Syria

The Director of the Egyptian Center for Thought and Strategic Studies, Brigadier General Khaled Okasha, emphasized his country’s careful study of the steps taken towards Syria, stressing the importance of enabling all segments of the Syrian people to shape the political scene. He highlighted the challenges Syrians face on various issues, most notably the Israeli strikes.

Okasha attributed Egypt’s concern about the new Syrian administration to its similarity to the previous one, noting fears that Syria might export extremist groups to neighboring countries. He added that one of the criticisms of the previous regime was its cooperation with armed groups, a practice that continues under the new administration, albeit with different affiliations.

Okasha praised the security screening measures implemented by Egypt’s Civil Aviation Authority before allowing Syrians to enter the country, given the instability of Syrian security agencies. He explained that these measures aim to prevent wanted individuals from regional and international security agencies from entering, especially after the announcement of granting citizenship to non-Syrian foreign fighters as a form of containment.