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Egypt extends for 6 months military mandate in Gulf, Red Sea

Egyptian Air Force holds an air show displaying F-16 aircrafts delivered to Egypt by U.S., as part of a military package that had been unfrozen earlier this year, in Cairo, Egypt, July 31, 2015. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

CAIRO (Reuters) - The Egyptian government extended by six months the deployment of "some elements of the armed forces" outside Egypt's borders to defend national and Arab security in the Gulf, Red Sea and the Strait of Mandeb, state news agency MENA said on Saturday. Egypt is part of a Saudi-led coalition that has been targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen. Egypt authorised a 40-day mandate on March 26, and extended it for three months in May 3 before extending it again on Saturday following the national defence council's approval.