United States to continue joint military exercise in Egypt

The United States still plans to hold a major military exercise called Bright Star in Egypt in mid-September, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Wednesday, even after the Egyptian military’s toppling of the president and the violence that has ensued.

“We’re planning on going ahead with it,” Hagel told reporters at a Pentagon news conference.

Hagel has been in regular contact with Egyptian army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sissi since the military ousted Islamist President Mohamed Mursi on July 3.