The launch of a new Congressional Egypt Caucus was disrupted by anti-war protesters on July 16, highlighting the intensifying opposition to America's $1.5 billion a year in military and economic support to the country.
The bipartisan group of four conservative Republicans and California Democrat Loretta Sanchez launches just as Senate appropriators voted to cut aid by $400 million and the Obama administration is holding up weapons deliveries, including Apache attack helicopters. The Republican members made clear that their goal in forming the Caucus was to push back against criticism of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, repeatedly praising him as a key ally in America's fight against Islamist militants.