Israel threatens to attack militants in Sinai if needed
The attack will be initiated if the Islamic State affiliate were to attack
Israeli citizens and soldiers
Menna Alaa El-Din , Thursday 30 Jul 2015
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/136572/Egypt/Politics-/Israel-threatens-to-attack-militants-in-Sinai-if-n.aspx

A senior Israeli army officer has threatened to attack the Islamic State
affiliate, Sinai Province, if they were to attack Israeli citizens and
soldiers.

"If the Sinai Province tried to target our citizens and soldiers, we will
make sure we hit them forcefully and decisively," said Brigadier General
Royi Elcabets.

The commander was quoted on Wednesday by Israeli army spokesman Avichay
Adraee, who posted the remarks on his Facebook page. The statement was made
during a military ceremony marking the transfer of command from Elcabets to
Rafi Miloa, the new head of the southern Adom formation.

"There have been significant changes on the other side of the border that
require us to be ready for any scenario or downslide, and to continue
securing our southern area," the new commander added.

Based in the Sinai Peninsula, the Sinai Province (Waliyat Sinai) pledged
allegiance to the Islamist State group in November 2014.

The group is known for claiming responsibility for Egypt's deadliest and
bloodiest attacks in Sinai last July.

Earlier this month, 21 soldiers were killed during simultaneous militant
assaults on army checkpoints in the North Sinai towns of Sheikh Zuweid and
Rafah, an attack that prompted days-long fighting between troops and
insurgents and left over 200 militants dead.

The group also claimed responsibility in July for a rocket attack launched
from the Sinai Peninsula into southern Israel.