Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has warned that the current political crisis might lead to state collapse if political parties don't work together to solve it.
Speaking to students at the Military Academy on Tuesday, he said, "The continuation of the conflict [between] political powers over managing state affairs may lead to the collapse of the state, and threatens the future of the coming generations."
He added that the deployment of the Armed Forces in Port Said and Suez is intended to "protect vital and strategic targets, most importantly the Suez Canal, to which we will not allow any harm, and to assist the Interior Ministry, which is carrying out its role very courageously and honorably."
His remarks were published on the official Facebook page of the Armed Forces spokesman.
Sisi added that the political, economic, social and security challenges Egypt faces at the moment genuinely threaten its security and coherence, saying that the country's stability would be greatly affected if the unrest continues.
However, Sisi added that the Armed Forces would remain a united force, and "a strong pillar for the Egyptian state," adding that the military belongs to all Egyptians.
He also said that protests must be kept peaceful, pointing to what he claimed was the difficult balancing act that the Armed Forces had to perform by allowing protests while at the same time protecting vital establishments.
