Cairo: An Egyptian archaeological mission working at the Tell al-Kharouba archaeological site in the Sheikh Zuweid area of North Sinai has uncovered a military fortress dating back to the New Kingdom. This fortress is one of the largest and most important fortresses discovered along the Horus Military Road and is located near the Mediterranean coast.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the fortress is a new addition to a series of military fortresses discovered along the Horus Military Road, most notably Tell Habwa, Tell al-Burj, and Tell al-Abyad, all of which date back to the New Kingdom. The newly discovered fortress covers an area of approximately 8,000 square meters, which is three times the size of the fortress discovered at the same site in the 1980s, located about 700 meters southwest of the current fortress.

Excavations have revealed a section of the fortress's southern wall, measuring approximately 105 meters in length and 2.5 meters in width. A secondary entrance, 2.20 meters wide, is located in the center of this wall, along with eleven defensive towers that have been uncovered so far. A 75-meter-long zigzag wall was uncovered on the western side of the fortress, dividing it from north to south and surrounding a residential area designated for soldiers. This distinctive architectural design from the New Kingdom period reflects the ancient Egyptian architect's ability to adapt to a harsh environment.

This archaeological discovery reflects the brilliance of the military planning of the New Kingdom kings, who constructed a series of fortresses and defensive fortifications to protect Egypt's eastern borders and secure the most important strategic routes that connected ancient Egypt with Palestine.