President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi travelled to Alexandria Tuesday to oversee naval exercises marking the anniversary of the sinking of the Israeli destroyer Eliat during the 1967 war with Israel.

In a statement released by the presidential spokesman, Al-Sisi likened the success of the 25 January and 3 July revolutions to the 21 October 1967 sinking of the Eliat in Port Said. The sinking took place during the 1967 war between Egypt and Israel.

Al-Sisi noted that these events changed the reality of Egypt politically, economically and socially, and he praised the navy as one of the main branches of the Egyptian military.

The commander of the navy is also set to unveil new warships recently commissioned into the fleet.

Al-Sisi stressed the need for an effective and modern navy as regional events, including ongoing political and social strife in Yemen and piracy, continue to threaten the well-being of Egyptians.

The exercises featured strategic and tactical manoeuvres by warships and soldiers, as well as rapid response drills simulating a biological weapons attack.

According to a statement released by the armed forces, the purpose of the Al-Bader exercises were to “increase combat efficiency” and to discuss the “elements involved in the implementation” of tasks designated to the navy.