Egypt takes delivery of 8 F-16s as US ties improve

Egypt will take delivery of eight F-16 fighter jets from the United States as part of a $1.3 billion military package, according to World Tribune.

The U.S. embassy in Cairo said on July 30 the F-16s would be delivered by July 31.

U.S. President Barack Obama authorized delivery of the jets after lifting a block on U.S. military aid to Egypt in March. Cairo will get four additional F-16s in the autumn.

Observers say relations between Washington and Cairo have steadily improved since President Abdul Fatah Sisi was elected after the overthrow in 2013 of Mohammed Morsi.

The White House also said the U.S. would release to Egypt 20 Boeing Harpoon missiles and up to 125 M1A1 Abrams tank kits made by General Dynamics.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Egypt on Aug. 2 to continue a “strategic dialogue” that last took place between the two countries in December 2009.