Statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby:
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel spoke this morning with Egyptian Minister of Defense Col. Gen. Sedki Sobhy to express his condolences over the recent loss of 22 Egyptian soldiers in an attack near the Libyan border.
Secretary Hagel thanked Gen. Sobhy for Egypt's efforts to broker a cease fire to the conflict in Israel and Gaza and noted that Secretary of State John Kerry would be arriving in Egypt shortly to discuss this pressing issue.
Secretary Hagel and Gen. Sobhy reaffirmed their commitment to a strong bilateral relationship and agreed to continue to engage regularly.