Readout of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's Call with Egyptian Minister of Defense Col. General Sedki Sobhy

Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel spoke this morning with Egyptian Minister of Defense Colonel General Sedki Sobhy to confirm that the U.S. plans to deliver 10 Apache helicopters to Egypt to support their counterterrorism efforts.

Secretary Hagel and General Sobhy also discussed regional security in the Middle East and North Africa and the U.S. led coalition to counter-ISIL.

Secretary Hagel thanked General Sobhy for Egypt's role in brokering a cease fire to end the Gaza crisis.

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a strong bilateral relationship and agreed to continue to engage regularly.