1 Egyptian soldier killed, 5 wounded in two Sinai militant attacks
An Egyptian soldier has died and five others have been wounded in two separate militant attacks on the restive Sinai Peninsula.
Security officials said the attacks both took place on Monday in the troubled northern part of the pennisula.
In the first attack, militants attacked a military checkpoint, firing several mortar shells near the town of Sheikh Zuweyid. One soldier was killed and another wounded.
In the second attack, militants blew up an explosive device as an armored military vehicle was passing by near the northern city of Rafah.
The attacks occurred as the security situation in the region remains volatile. Fighting between the Egyptian army and militants began nearly two years ago. Deadly militant bomb attacks and ambushes on checkpoints have frequently caused casualties among the security forces deployed in Sinai.
A local militant group named Velayat Sinai, which was formerly known as Ansar Bait al-Maqdis, has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks targeting security forces. The militant group has links to the terrorist ISIL group which is carrying out heinous acts in Iraq and Syria.
The Egyptian militants intensified their terrorist attacks against security forces after former President Mohamed Morsi was ousted in 2013. The violence has since surged, highlighted by a militant attack on an Egyptian army checkpoint that killed more than 30 soldiers in October 2014. Following the deadly attack, a state of emergency was declared in the northwestern part of the Sinai Peninsula. The Egyptian military views the Sinai Peninsula as a hideout and base for the militants.
The Sinai Peninsula or Sinai is a triangular stretch of land which measures about 60,000 square kilometers (23,000 square miles) in area. It is situated between the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Red Sea to the south, and is the only part of Egyptian territory located in Asia. It serves as the only land bridge between Asia and Africa.
XLS/KA/HMV
Egypt says it rejected huge financial offers to accept Palestinian displacement
Egypt’s gas deal funnels $35bn to Israeli coffers
White House pushing for Sisi–Netanyahu summit: Report
VIDEO | Australians protest over US action in Venezuela
Cuba declares national mourning for 32 citizens killed in US raids on Venezuela
Iran: US must release kidnapped Venezuelan president
After US aggression against Venezuela, Mexico could be next: Report
Qalibaf: Protesters must be heard but foreign-linked agitators will be dealt with
VIDEO | German government refuses to condemn US aggression against Venezuela
Venezuela’s acting president calls for peaceful coexistence, dialogue with US
Denmark, Greenland leaders urge Trump to halt takeover threats
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
