Egypt kills jihadist leader

CAIRO: Egypt’s military said yesterday it had killed a jihadist leader in the Sinai Peninsula, where the Islamic State group is carrying out an insurgency. During an operation in mountainous areas, Egyptian forces “killed Nasser Abu Zaqul, the central Sinai commander of the terrorist group, after significant exchanges of fire,” the army said in a statement. The military said it found a rifle, two grenades and a large quantity of ammunition with the slain insurgent leader. Egypt’s army launched a major offensive against the jihadists on February 9 in the northern Sinai Peninsula, in an attempt to neutralize a local branch of IS. More than 100 of the rebels and at least 30 government troops have been killed since the operation, dubbed “Sinai 2018,” was launched, according to official figures.