Egyptian Army Kill 30 Militants in Sinai Peninsula

Local Editor

Egyptian armed forces killed 30 militants as they foiled an attack targeting a security checkpoint in the restive Sinai Peninsula.

Army spokesman Brigadier General Mohamed Samir reported that the fatalities came as the militants tried to storm the security checkpoint in the North Sinai city of Sheikh Zuweid on Thursday, prompting the Egyptian soldiers stationed there to respond.

Some 10 other militants were wounded in the ensuing clashes, which also claimed the lives of four army personnel and left eight injured.

The Egyptian army further destroyed eight militant hideouts as well as four of their vehicles and a motorbike during the counter-operation in the area, according to the security official.

Earlier on Thursday, "ISIS"-linked militants bombed a section of the pipeline carrying gas to Jordan and to a major industrial zone in North Sinai.

The Egyptian affiliate of the Takfiri "ISIS" terrorist group, known as Velayat Sinai, claimed responsibility for the blast that took place close to the North Sinai village of el-Midan.

Over the past few years, militants used the Sinai Peninsula as a safe haven to carry out deadly attacks mainly targeting Egyptian army and police forces.

Velayat Sinai, previously known as Ansar Bait al-Maqdis, claimed responsibility for most of the assaults. The group pledged allegiance to "ISIS" in November 2014.

Accordingly, the Egyptian army has long been engaged in military operations against the militants in the volatile region, which has been under a state of emergency since October 2014.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team