EL-ARISH, Egypt (AP) — The deputy commander of the U.S. Central Command paid a visit Monday to American troops stationed in Egypt’s troubled Sinai Peninsula, which has been plagued by lawlessness and a series of militant attacks on local troops and cross-border strikes into Israel.

A U.S. official said the trip by Vice Adm. Robert Harward to U.S troops who are stationed in Sinai as part of the 12-nation Multinational Force and Observers mission was a “routine” visit to an area crucial to security in the region. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to brief the media.