Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi says he warned a year ago about the growing threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
In his first interview with a non-Egyptian media outlet since taking office, el-Sissi told the Associated Press that he recognized the threat and had acted to prevent a civil war from breaking out in Egypt.
“I warned about the great danger a year ago,” he told the AP. “But it was not clear [to others] until the events in Iraq and the [Islamic State]’s sweep” over much of that country.
The United States is now engaged in an offensive with other nations to stop the growing threat of the Islamic State.
The group has destabilized Iraq and Syria and is vying to spread to other parts of the region.
El-Sissi, in the wide-ranging interview, would not specify how Egypt will assist the United States in defeating the Islamic State, except to pledge, “We will do whatever is required.”
He called for a “comprehensive strategy” to help extinguish the terrorist group.
President Obama said the United States will work with 40 other countries to take on the Islamic State, but commitment levels are so far unclear, particularly from Middle East nations.
El-Sissi was head of the Egyptian military and won his current position by pushing out President Mohamed Morsi last year.
