Egypt's Powerful Armed Forces

Egypt's powerful armed forces The largest military force in the Middle East S. Arabia Egypt 469,000 Syria 308,000 Iran Active members: 420,000 200,000 The military's key role in politics 1952 1953-2011 Feb 2011 April, Nov, Dec 2011 Aug 2012 July 3, 2013 Aug 14, 2013 The army overthrows King Farouk and takes 4 military presidents: Muhammad Naguib Gamal Abdel Nasser Anwar Sadat Hosni Mubarak Troops violently repress protests against military rule in Cairo's Tahrir Square The army ousts and detains Morsi, appointing Supreme Court judge Adly Mansour as caretaker president Army chief General power Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Popular uprising topples President Mubarak, who hands power to the military's supreme council Islamist Mohamed Morsi, Egypt's first civilian president, takes over the army's sweeping executive powers An army crackdown on Morsi supporters kills nearly 600 people. The military authorities impose a nationwide state of emergency The armed forces gain multiple privileges and develop an economic empire Source: globalsecurity.org AFP