Cairo riots not affecting Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers directly

The Multi-National Force Soldiers Are Located in Sinai, Egypt

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (01/28/11) - The Illinois Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment currently deployed to Sinai, Egypt is not being affected by the riots in Cairo, Egypt, except for the interruption of commercial communication.

The nearly 440 Illinois Soldiers are part of the Multinational Force and Observers, an international peacekeeping force overseeing the terms of the 1979 peace treaty between Israel and Egypt.

The MFO's bases are hundreds of miles away from Cairo where the rioting is taking place.

The interruption of commercial communication is affecting ILARNG Soldiers' ability to quickly communicate via email and telephone with their loved ones here in Illinois.

Military communication channels between the MFO and the Illinois National Guard are still open and are being used to keep families abreast of the situation.

The rioting is not directed toward the MFO or the ILARNG Soldiers.

The Illinois National Guard Soldiers stationed in Sinai are professional, highly trained and able to respond to a variety of incidents.

 If the situation in Egypt changes the MFO and ILARNG is capable of taking appropriate measures to safeguard American troops.

The 123rd Field Artillery deployed to Sinai in May 2010 and will return home May 2011.