CAIRO — Egypt said late Saturday that its military presence in the Sinai Peninsula is aimed at protecting national borders and remains consistent with the 1979 peace treaty with Israel, dismissing claims that it violated the accord.

“The forces present in Sinai primarily aim to secure the Egyptian borders against all risks, including terrorism and smuggling, and this is carried out within prior coordination with the parties to the peace treaty,” the State Information Service (SIS) said in a statement.

The remarks followed a report by U.S. news outlet Axios, which said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had asked the Trump administration to pressure Egypt to scale down its military buildup in Sinai, alleging it breached the treaty.

Citing one U.S. official and two Israeli officials, Axios reported that Netanyahu presented U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio with a list of Egyptian activities in Sinai that he claimed “substantially violate” the agreement, for which Washington acts as guarantor.

Egypt, however, reaffirmed that it has never violated an international treaty and is fully committed to maintaining the peace accord signed in 1979 under the Camp David framework.

The agreement divided Sinai into specific military zones with limitations on troop deployment and weaponry for both Egypt and Israel.

Cairo also reiterated its rejection of any attempt to expand Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip or to forcibly displace Palestinians.

It stressed its continued support for the establishment of a Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967, borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. — Agencies