News   /   Egypt

Egyptian army forces kill 29 militants in restive Sinai

In this file photo, an Egyptian soldier stands on armored vehicle in the city of el-Arish, North Sinai. © AP

Egyptian military forces have killed 29 militants and arrested more than 130 others during separate operations in the violence-plagued Sinai Peninsula over the past days. 

Army spokesman Brigadier General Mohamed Samir said Saturday that the militants were killed and arrested during exchanges of gunfire with Egyptian soldiers in the North Sinai city of el-Arish as well as the towns of Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid between April 20 and 30.

He added that 133 other militants were detained in the raids in North Sinai, noting that 34 vehicles and 96 motorcycles used by the militants were also destroyed during the operations.

On April 25, three people lost their lives and two others sustained injuries as a result of armed clashes between Egyptian security forces and militants in North Sinai.

This file photo shows Ansar Bait al-Maqdis militants in Egypt's troubled Sinai Peninsula.

A state of emergency has been declared in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula since a militant attack on an Egyptian army checkpoint killed more than 30 soldiers in October 2014.

The Egyptian military considers the Sinai Peninsula a safe haven for gunmen, who use the region as a base for their “acts of terror.”

Since the ouster of former president, Mohamed Morsi, in July 2013, gunmen have launched terrorist attacks in Sinai, killing Egyptian security forces.

Velayat Sinai militants, previously known as Ansar Bait al-Maqdis, have claimed responsibility for most of the attacks in the region. The group pledged allegiance to the ISIL terrorist group last November.

MP/MKA/HMV


Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Press TV News Roku