US Secretary of State John Kerry said Saturday Egypt was on the frontline against "terrorism" after meeting its leadership to garner support to fight jihadists in Iraq and Syria.
Egypt's formidable army is unlikely to take part in a military coalition against the Islamic State (IS) jihadists, but it has closely cooperated with the United States on counter-terrorism.
The Arab world's most populous state boasts the prestigious Sunni Muslim authority Al-Azhar which Kerry said would fight back against the Islamic State's use of the religion.
Washington says it is "at war" with IS and has named John Allen, a hawkish former commander in Afghanistan and Iraq, to coordinate its campaign against the movement that has seized large chunks of Iraq and neighbouring Syria.
Kerry, who flew in from Ankara, met President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi.
Cairo's involvement in the coalition may help to soothe its relations with Washington, after the United States suspended -- then restored -- military aid when the army ousted elected Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.
Morsi's successor, former army chief Sisi, is fighting Islamist militants in the restive Sinai Peninsula who have expressed support for the Islamic State.
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