The Egyptian military and civilian police forces have launched the third phase of a joint security campaign targeting illegal gold prospecting across the Eastern Desert.

The Egyptian Armed Forces announced that personnel from the military and civilian police are continuing the third phase of an expanded campaign to combat illegal gold ore prospecting in the Eastern Desert.

The third phase began after warning leaflets were dropped, targeting individuals involved in illegal prospecting, the Armed Forces said in a statement issued Monday evening. The campaign is part of broader efforts to assert full sovereignty over Egyptian territory and protect the country’s assets and natural resources.

The statement followed media reports alleging that an airstrike had targeted illegal artisanal miners near the Egypt-Sudan border, killing dozens. Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan ordered an investigation into the incident to establish the circumstances surrounding it.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian Armed Forces underscored the deep political and popular ties between Egypt and Sudan, noting that the peaceful coexistence of millions of Sudanese people on Egyptian soil serves as clear evidence of the longstanding relationship between the two nations.

The military also urged the peoples of the Nile Valley to rely on official sources for information and avoid being influenced by misleading rumors or foreign agendas seeking to undermine the fraternal ties between the Egyptian and Sudanese peoples.Separately, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty held a telephone call with his Sudanese counterpart, Mohieddin Salem, to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional coordination.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nader Zaki said the two ministers reaffirmed the strength of Egyptian-Sudanese relations and the historical bonds linking the peoples of the Nile Valley.

The two sides stressed the importance of advancing bilateral relations in pursuit of mutual interests, building on the outcomes of the recent meeting between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan in New Alamein.

Zaki added that both ministers reaffirmed their commitment at the highest levels to strengthening cooperation across various fields and maintaining continuous consultation.

The ministers also emphasized the importance of mutual respect for each country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and borders.