Egyptian army ready to move to free kidnapped soldiers: Sources
Military sources say that troops in Sinai are taking up their positions for
an operation to liberate 7 Egyptian soldiers kidnapped last week
Ahram Online, Tuesday 21 May 2013
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/71996/Egypt/Politics-/Egyptian-army-ready-to-move-to-free-kidnapped-sold.aspx

The Egyptian armed forces have intensified deployment of troops in Sinai on
Tuesday in the areas of Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid City, in preparation for an
operation to free seven kidnapped soldiers, according to Ahram's Arabic
website, which cited unnamed military sources.

The report said that armoured vehicles are aiming to encircle the kidnappers
and minimise their chances of escaping with the hostages. Main roads were
also blocked as mobile and static police checkpoints increased.

Seven Egyptian security personnel, including one member of the armed forces,
four from port security, and two from state security, have been held by
unidentified kidnappers in the Sinai Peninsula since Thursday.

It is the first time Egyptian security personnel have been abducted by
Sinai-based militants, though kidnappings are rife in the region.

A military source was quoted in Ahram as saying that elements from the
Second and Third Army, regional divisions of the Egyptian armed forces
responsible for the Sinai Peninsula and the Suez Canal, would be involved in
the operation.

However, he denied that the operation is underway as reported, without
mentioning when it will begin.

"Doing a military job cannot be hasty or impulsive … it comes after
coordination between military and political leaders, after all means of
peaceful negotiations are exhausted," he said.

"The fact that troops are moving does not mean the operation has started."

The same anonymous source also said that the police have sent forces
specialised in hostage liberation to Sinai to support the deployed troops.

On Sunday, President Morsi said that "all options" remained open to secure
the release of the kidnapped security personnel, stressing that Egypt would
"not be blackmailed" by the captors.

Egyptian police have been the target of several violent attacks by Sinai
residents over the past two years.

Residents of Sinai have often complained of neglect and marginalisation by
the authorities, especially after the revolution, and some have sought to
take revenge against the security forces after years of heavy-handed
security policies.