Obama Lifts Holds On Delivery Of Military Aircraft, Missiles To Egypt

President Barack Obama will lift holds on delivery of military aircraft, missiles and tanks to Egypt, the White House said Tuesday. The holds have been in place since October 2013, following the Egyptian military's overthrow of then-President Mohammed Morsi. A White House spokeswoman said the decision to release the aircraft, tanks and missiles was taken in the interest of U.S. national security. The U.S. has been weighing whether to lift the hold to help combat the extremist threat spilling over from Libya and in the Sinai Peninsula, according to the Associated Press. Obama directed the release of 12 F-16 aircraft, 20 Harpoon missiles and up to 125 M1A1 Abrams tank kits.