This comes as he draws domestic and international pressure for what he calls his brute force response to terror in the northern Sinai.

After bombing the Coptic cathedral in Cairo last December, killing 29 people , so-called Islamic State called Coptic Christians their favourite prey.

On Palm Sunday, the terrorists struck churches in Tanta and Alexandria, leaving 45 dead.

Although the terrorists have moved on to attacking Sufi Muslim mosques, the copts, who make up between 10 and 15 percent of Egypt’s population, say they are poorly protected by the government of former military strongman Abdel Fatah El Sisi.

He’s determined to keep them safe this Christmas and stop IS terrorists leaking out of the remote Sinai into Egypt’s cities.

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