Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — For the first time, Egypt has reported the passage of
Israeli warships through the Suez Canal.

Egypt’s state-owned Al Ahram daily said two Israel Navy vessels were
allowed to cross the Suez Canal earlier this month. The newspaper, regarded as a
mouthpiece of Egypt’s military regime, identified the Israeli vessels as the
Lahav and Yafo missile boats.

The March 13 report marked the first time that Egypt acknowledged that Israel Navy ships were entering the Suez Canal. Egypt did not respond to reports of several Israel Navy crossings in 2011.

Officials were quoted as saying that the Israel Navy crossing took 14 hours. They said ships from Israel and France left Port Said on the northern end and headed through the canal to the Red Sea.

Al Ahram said an Egyptian tow accompanied the Israeli force. Officials cited security concerns for the safety of the Israeli and French ships.

Egypt has been under fire for allowing the Iranian Navy to cross the Suez Canal for operations in the Mediterranean Sea.

In February, two Iranian Navy vessels entered the Suez and were said to have headed for Syria. The
United States said the Iranian ships did not reach their destination.

  Iranian Navy, Israel Navy, Lahav and Yafo missile boats, Mediterranean Sea, Port Said, Report: Israeli missile boats crossed Suez Canal