Egyptian army says 88 terrorists killed in North Sinai in 12 days
A statement by the army spokesman also notes that 58 suspects were arrested,
47 bombs dismantled and nine terrorist hideouts destroyed
Ahram Online , Sunday 2 Aug 2015
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/136750/Egypt/Politics-/Egyptian-army-says--terrorists-killed-in-North-Sin.aspx
The Egyptian army has killed 88 militants in North Sinai between 20 and
31 July, the army's spokesman said in a statement Sunday.
In a Facebook statement, Egypt’s army spokesperson, Brigadier General
Mohamed Samir, stated that the army had detained 58 suspects during the last
12 days, two of whom were already wanted by authorities.
The report also stated that nine terrorist headquarters were destroyed, in
addition to two terrorist storage units that contained bomb-making material.
Army forces were also able to dismantle 47 bombs that were prepared to
attack army personnel.
Previous army statements reveal that most assailants attacking police and
army personnel use cars and motorcycles without license plates.
Samir said that 39 vehicles and 36 motorcycles with no license plates were
destroyed.
In early July, attacks by the Islamist militant group Sinai Province
(formerly known as Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis), which announced its allegiance to
Islamic State (IS), left at least 21 soldiers dead in Sheikh Zuweid and
Rafah cities.
Following the deadly attacks, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi visited troops
in North Sinai, donning his military uniform for the first time since he
took office in June 2014, to show his support for the Egyptian army in the
fight against terrorism.
Egypt's military has been combating a decade-long militant insurgency in the
Sinai Peninsula, with attacks increasing over the past year. Hundreds of
soldiers and police have been killed while the army says it has killed and
arrested hundreds of militants. Civilians have also been caught in the
violence.
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