Sinai fighting kills 12 security personnel
CAIRO: Militants killed 10 Egyptian soldiers and two policemen in the Sinai Peninsula on Thursday, underscoring the challenge security forces face in fighting terrorism in the restive area bordering Israel and the Gaza Strip.
Tamer el- Rifai, an army spokesman, said the troops were carrying out a raid in which they killed 15 militants and arrested another seven. The three officers and seven enlisted men were killed by roadside bombs while in pursuit of the militants, he said.
The Interior Ministry said the two police were killed near a police station in the city of El-Arish, where much of the violence has been centered.
Troops destroyed a large amount of explosives in the raid and seized other weapons, ammunition and equipment, including roadside bombs, computers, solar panels, documents and mobile phones, Al-Rifai said.
He released photos of the bodies of alleged extremists, wearing long tunics and baggy pants popular with jihadi fighters across the world. Weapons and equipment were also shown, as well as seven blindfolded men kneeling under guard by soldiers.
Earlier this month, the Sinaibased Daesh branch claimed responsibility for the killing of Col. Yasser Mohammed El-Hadidi, a senior officer in El-Arish, with a roadside bomb. It said it killed two other officers the following day.
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi praised Egypt’s long-running fight against militants.
In televised comments, the Egyptian leader said the country’s security forces were flying the “banner of humanity, mercy, construction and development.”
During a ceremony honoring martyrs from the armed forces, he added: “We are the true protectors of righteousness and we sincerely condemn all cowardly terrorist acts anywhere in the world.”
El-Sisi also ordered the doubling of the budget of the military association that looks after the families of fallen soldiers and provides physical therapy for disabled troops.
He suggested that members of the armed forces have a “symbolic” part of their salaries deducted as a donation to the association in solidarity with the wounded.