Following the removal of Muslim Brotherhood President Mohammed Morsi in July 2013 the government launched a "war on terror" to tackle the longrunning salafi-jihadist insurgency in the Sinai, and a separate insurgency by disaffected Brotherhood supporters against the new regime in mainland Egypt. More than two years later, the state continues to confront terrorism and political violence that have expanded in geography, ideology, target and method.
The expansion of special forces and Rapid Deployment Forces units will allow the army to conduct effective counterterrorism operations.
However, the army and police risk undermining counterterrorism gains with heavy-handed security operations that increase radicalisation.
Egypt's inability to 'win' its "war on terror" will eventually dampen public approval of the government and the armed forces.
