Panetta: U.S., Egyptian defense ties solid

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 15 (UPI) -- The Egyptian defense minister expressed "unwavering commitment" to the country's military relationship with the United States, the U.S. defense secretary said.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi replaced Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi as defense minister with the former head of military intelligence, Gen. Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi. Tantawi served as head of the Supreme Council of Armed Forces, which led Egypt since the 2011 revolution until Morsi's election in June.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said he had "a very good conversation" with the new defense minister, who was educated at a military college in the United States.

"Gen. al-Sisi expressed his unwavering commitment to the U.S.-Egypt military-to-military relationship, which has been really an anchor of stability in the Middle East for more than 30 years," said Panetta in a statement. "And I, in turn, indicated to him that I look forward to working with him and to continuing the relationship that we have had with Egypt over those years."

The Egyptian government was prompted to take military action in the Sinai Peninsula following attacks near the border with Israel. Panetta said the defense minister expressed his commitment to addressing the security situation in the Sinai Peninsula.