| Egyptian Border Guard قوات حرس الحدود | |
|---|---|
 Honesty . Honour . Sacrifice | |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1878[citation needed] |
| Employees | 25,000 (2020) |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Egypt |
| Specialist jurisdiction |
|
| Operational structure | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent agency | Egyptian Army |
TheBorder Guard Corps (Arabic:قوات حرس الحدود,romanized: Quwwāt Ḥaras al-Ḥudūd,lit. 'Border Guard Forces') is a militarised corps subordinate to theEgyptian Army. It is tasked with the protection of Egypt's land and sea borders. The corps is in charge of protecting theSuez Canal and stopping the movement of illegal immigrants, smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal narcotics into and out of Egypt.[1]
As of 2020, the corps fell under the control of the Ministry of Interior. According to theIISS Military Balance 2020, it comprised an estimated 25,000, in 18 border regiments, withlight weapons only.[2]
In total, the Border Guards are responsible for securing over 6000 km of land and sea borders. They work in cooperation with theEgyptian Armed Forces to counter infiltration.
The Border Guards have a particular responsibility in securing the 13 kmGaza Strip border where thousands of tunnels have brought in narcotics, weapons, and militants into theSinai Desert.[3][4]
Originally founded as the Frontier Corps in 1878, in 1917, under the administration ofSultan Hussein Kamel, the Department of Border and Coastal Management was created a sub-department of theMinistry of Finance, and under it the Border Guard was founded.
In 1939, theCoast Guard was separated into the Ministry of War, later forming the basis for the founding of the modernEgyptian Navy.
The Egyptian Border Guard participated inWorld War II including stopping the sabotage ofMatrouh-Alexandria railway in theFukah region by German soldiers and shot down an axis plane and apprehended it's pilot.[5]
Before the June 1967 War, the army divided its personnel into four regional commands (Suez, Sinai, Nile Delta, and Nile Valley up to the Sudan).[6] The remainder of Egypt's territory, over 75%, was the sole responsibility of the Frontier Corps.
In theSix Day War, the Egyptian Border Guard intercepted and captured Israeli frogmen in thePort of Alexandria as well as supporting the retreat of Egyptian troops from Sinai using fishing boats and taking part in the battle ofRas Aleishi.[7]
On 6 July 1972, the Command of the Border Guard was created from the merging of the other departments and was given to the Army, rejoining the Coast Guard and Border Guard.[1]
Veto Gate lists the following as former members of the Guard:[7]