The Egyptian ambassador to the US has asked the US television network CBS not to broadcast an interview with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the broadcaster says.
CBS said that in the interview the president confirmed that the Egyptian military was working with Israel against terrorists in North Sinai. Egypt is battling an estimated 1,000 IS-affiliated jihadists and are letting Israel attack them from the air, CBS said.
In February the New York Times reported that Israeli aircraft had carried out dozens of cross-border strikes against jihadists in the Sinai.
In reaction, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country would do “whatever is necessary to defend ourselves”, reports AFP news agency. Egypt has signed peace treaties with Israel but relations remain sensitive.
The interview with Mr El-Sisi is due to air on Sunday and CBS insisted that it still planned to broadcast it.
