Attacks on Egyptian Coast Suggest Gaza War Spillover

Latest Developments

A drone and an unidentified projectile struck Egyptian towns on the Red Sea coast on October 27 in an apparent regional spillover of the Israel-Hamas war. Six people were injured by the early morning explosions in Taba, on Egypt’s border with Israel, and Nuweiba, some 40 miles to the south. Egyptian officials described the former as the result of a drone crashing, while the exact nature of the projectile involved in the latter was not immediately published.

Israel said at least one of the incidents appeared to have been connected to an “aerial threat” spotted in the Red Sea area that led to the scrambling of Israeli military helicopters. “Israel will work with Egypt and the United States to enhance regional defenses against threats emanating from the Red Sea region,” said chief IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.

The incidents came two days after Hamas launched a rocket toward Eilat, the Israeli resort just over the border from Taba, and a week after Houthi terrorists in Yemen launched a salvo of cruise missiles and drones toward southern Israel. The latter were intercepted over the Red Sea by a U.S. Navy ship.

Expert Analysis

“Whether the Egyptians suffered an errant long-range Palestinian rocket or a Houthi drone that fell short, this should be their wake-up call. The Gaza war is on their doorstep and is liable to threaten their national security even further with time. Destroying Hamas will only benefit the region, and Cairo should be making every effort to help Israel in that mission.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“Egypt, which shares a border with both Israel and Gaza, has a role to play in this conflict. Egypt and the Jewish state have cooperated militarily in the past to destroy ISIS in the Sinai Peninsula and to contain Hamas. Now, Cairo and Jerusalem must work together not only to rid the region of the genocidal Iran-backed terror regime in Gaza but also to rebuild when the dust settles.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network

Related Analysis

“U.S. warship intercepts missiles fired by Iran-backed Houthis,” by Bill Roggio

“Rocket fire targets Eilat as IDF units continue to train for operations,” by Seth J. Frantzman

“Leader of Yemen’s Houthis states willingness to support ‘Palestinian people,’” by Joe Truzman