The overall situation in Egypt remains volatile due to high tensions between government security forces and Islamist sympathizers, including some affiliated with the Islamic State (IS). Since former President Mohamed Morsi was ousted from power in July 2013, President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has cracked down on Islamist groups throughout the country, deeming most of them terrorists. Over the past few years, attacks have been shifting from those targeting government institutions and security forces to civilians and tourist sites to disrupt Egypt’s flagging economy. In Oct 2015, an explosive device hidden on board a Russian civilian airliner departing Sharm el-Sheikh downed the aircraft over the Sinai Peninsula, killing all 224 passengers. It is believed Islamist extremists carried out the attack in retaliation for Russia’s participation in the war against IS. In July 2015, a Croatian engineer working for a French oil and gas geology firm was abducted as he was travelling on the outskirts of Cairo. The Croatian government believes criminals abducted him and demanded a ransom first before turning him over to Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, an Islamist extremist group that has pledged allegiance to IS, who beheaded him. They cited Croatia’s participation in the war against IS as the reason for the killing, highlighting the increasing threat to expatriates working in Egypt. As a result of the attacks, international companies have been forced to reassess the security of their personnel, assets and operations throughout the country.