The Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) have been present in the Sinai since Egypt’s 1979 peace treaty with Israel. About 700 personnel, including an Army battalion and logistics support unit, are currently there.
The peacekeepers are lightly armed and have little offensive capability. Several other countries also provide personnel.
Some analysts believe that if the U.S. withdraws the Sinai force, ISIL and other terror groups will see it as a victory and become even more emboldened. Without the U.S. unit, it is unlikely the MFO would be able to sustain itself much longer.
Senior administration officials have floated the possibly of shipping additional equipment to better secure the peacekeepers’ positions, but they are also considering bringing them home.
The presence of the military units in Sinai is mandated by the Camp David Accords, which led to the Egypt-Israel peace treaty, but the U.S. can remove them — at least temporarily — if they’re in imminent danger.
“The U.S. is concerned over deteriorating security conditions in an area of northeastern Sinai where Egyptian security forces as well as civilian and military elements of the MFO, including the U.S. military forces stationed at the MFO North Camp, are exposed to potential risk,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.
Egyptian relations with Israel has improved since President Abdul Fatah Sisi’s overthrow of Mohammed Morsi. Israel has even waived provisions of the peace treaty several times to allow more Egyptian forces to move into Sinai to fight jihadists.
Some officials say the MFO is not equipped to deal with the growing threats in Sinai, but they say the American force is still seen by both sides as an important reassurance.
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Photo: Multinational Force and Observers in Sinai.