Egyptian Media Turns Israeli Operation Against Iran Into Anti-Israel Messaging Tool

Egyptian media has painted a picture of Israel’s Operation Rising Lion that bears little resemblance to reality.

While American media have reported on Israel’s military gains, Tehran’s limited retaliatory strikes, the degradation of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, and the human toll of the operation, Egyptian media have fixated on Iran’s handful of strikes on Israel, framing them as decisive victories. But this is not a gesture of solidarity with Tehran, which has tense relations with Cairo. Rather, it is part of Egypt’s increasingly sharp anti-Israel rhetoric aimed solely at demonizing the Jewish state.

Egyptian Media Exaggerates Iran’s Military Success

On Sada El-Balad, a channel closely aligned with the Egyptian state, host Ahmed Mousa and his guests have focused on the supposed weakness of the Israeli home front. “The important part here is that if this scenario continues, with these images, Israel will not withstand a war for a week [or] 10 days,” said Tarek Fahmy, an expert in national security studies, on June 15. He added, “Israel doesn’t have the strategic depth when extended to Iran.”

The channel also featured Dr. Abdel Moneim Said, a prominent Egyptian politician and commentator, who declared on June 16 that Iran had inflicted “shock and disaster” on Israel. “New lessons [reveal] Iran’s ability to renew itself in the coming weeks … There are signals that Iran is prepared, like Iran saying, ‘I will not return to negotiations,’ despite the acrobatic work that Trump does.” Meanwhile, Tehran has signaled that it is open to negotiations.

A similar narrative played out on Al Hekaya, or The Story, hosted by longtime Egyptian media fixture and supporter of the Sisi government Amr Adeeb. “The Iranian retaliation has begun,” Adeeb asserted on June 13. “A painful, fiery, and disturbing night for all of Israel’s residents. All the people who were skeptical if there would be an Iranian retaliation, the Iranian retaliation is now live on the air.”

Even Egypt’s flagship government-owned newspaper, Al Ahram, posted almost exclusively on X about Iran’s strikes and their purported damage in Israel, while largely omitting Israel’s numerous direct hits on key Iranian assets.

Egypt’s Turbulent Relationship With Iran

Though Egypt and Iran have had periods of cooperation, the relationship has remained fundamentally fraught. Cairo and Tehran severed diplomatic ties after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, partly in response to Iran’s condemnation of Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel and the asylum Cairo granted to the deposed Shah. Since then, Cairo and Tehran have found themselves on opposite sides of regional issues like the Iran-Iraq War and conflicts in Syria and Lebanon.

Iran’s proxies, especially the Houthis, pose a direct threat to Egyptian interests. By disrupting maritime traffic in the Red Sea, Houthi attacks cost Egypt $7 billion in 2024 alone. For Cairo, Tehran’s regional strategy is reckless. Despite several attempts to thaw relations, including in July 2021, March 2023, and a meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Egyptian counterpart on June 1, deep-rooted mistrust remains.

This backdrop colors Egyptian media’s focus on Iran’s retaliation. Far from expressing admiration for Iran, the coverage reflects an overriding imperative to cast Israel as the aggressor, even if that means soft-pedaling Iranian belligerence and nuclear deception.

Washington Should Call Out Egypt’s Double Game

Egypt’s continued anti-Israel rhetoric, even as Cairo confronts shared threats with Washington and Jerusalem, undermines U.S. interests and values. American and Egyptian forces conduct joint exercises, share intelligence, and collaborate on regional security. Yet at home, Egypt is broadcasting narratives that legitimize Iranian aggression and isolate Israel.

Washington should issue a clear message: Military aid and diplomatic access come with expectations. This includes a less inflammatory posture from Egyptian media, which should move beyond its fixation on demonizing Israel, often by spreading disinformation that also harms U.S.-Egyptian relations.

Mariam Wahba is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from Mariam and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Mariam on X @themariamwahba. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focused on national security and foreign policy.