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Egypt Officially Announces ‘State Of War’

July 1, 2015
Archive photo for an IS militant convoy in Libya
The Sinai Provine, an IS-affiliated militant group, has announced in a statement its responsibility for the Sinai attacks in (Archive photo from Libya)

In an official statement released by the Egyptian Armed Forces, 17 Egyptian soldiers were reported killed, in addition to 13 more who were injured. The statement added that 100 militants have been killed, in addition to destroying 20 of the militants’ vehicles.

As the armed conflict dragged on in Egypt’s North Sinai throughout the day, figures of casualties and fatalities have wavered from one source to another. According to state-owned Al-Ahram, the casualties among the Egyptian forces had reached 60 between injured and killed. Meanwhile, the Egyptian military has stated that all terrorist locations in North Sinai have been destroyed. So far, 90 terrorists have been killed, Sky News reported.

However, independent newspapers, such as Shorouk and Youm7, have reported that the death toll among the Egyptian forces has amounted to 64 , while Reuters reported 50 deaths among civilians and soldiers.

According to Associated Press, a security source who spoke under the condition of anonymity stated that as the conflict escalated, Egyptian soldiers have been held captive, while armored vehicles and weapons have been claimed by militants during their raids on several military checkpoints across the Sinai Peninsula.

Nevertheless, security sources in Sinai have deemed the news of captivity uncertain due to all phone and internet connections being cut off in the conflict zone, reported Al-Masry Al-Youm.

As the Egyptian military and security forces continue battling the militant groups, successive explosions have been heard on the outskirts of Sheikh Zuweid, while F16 fighter air crafts have been reported to track down the terrorist militias, reported Al-Ahram.

In light of the terrorist attack in Sinai, Egyptian Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb said that Egypt is officially “in a state of war”, in what is considered to be the first official government statement since the eruption of the attacks.

Earlier today, the Sinai Province, an IS-affiliated militant group, has announced in a statement its responsibility for the Sinai attacks in Sheikh Zoweid, Al-Arish and Rafah which have been ongoing since the early hours of Wednesday.

The statement claims raiding over 15 Egyptian military checkpoints using light weapons, heavy armament and RPGs. In addition, Sinai Province have announced the execution of three “martyrdom operations” across Arish and Sheikh Zoweid.

Egypt’s North Sinai has witnessed a wave of attacks since the ouster of Morsi in July 2013. On Tuesday, two children were killed when a rocket reportedly fired by militants struck their home.

The story is developing.

Comments (65)

  1. Egyptian Canadian says:

    May God be with the Egyptian people and our army at this time. And my he help us exterminate these soulless scumbag savage barbarians once and for all.

    1. quranist says:

      Egypt’s constitution says sharia law so why are they complaining about ISIS. ISIS wants sharia law that Egyptian voted for but are afraid to implement. Abolish sharia law. Or else shut up.

    2. Tarek Salah says:

      your a moron- Sharia law has nothing to do with this- and the words in the constitution say not to go against shaira law thats all- not implement the salafi wahabi strict interpetation of it

    3. truth says:

      I would say, if the constitution spell it ” not to against sharia law” those who support sharia will consider it as implimented on the ground and who ever refuse to follow is getting panished cold blooded which is the worst part of it…

    4. quranist says:

      If the “wahabi” is a strict interpretation than what do you call the Maliki and Shafi interpretation of Islam? They are the same. Al Azhar follows the SAME Islam as ISIS. They both follow the 4 Imams of Sunni Islam the difference is on the ruling Imam. Between Sisi and Baghdadi. Thats all.

    5. M.Omran says:

      What the heck are you talking about?
      Which part of the constitution are you referring to? It seems you are an absolute ignoramus. People like you should have brain cells implant.

    6. Mo Abuali says:

      Who lied to u guy? Sharia law from what school the school of shafii or Maliki or alhlilbait I’m imam sadiq school??? Or Wahhabi ibn tymia kill everything no thinking school!!! Stop the lie! Isis is Wahhabi khawari Saudi sect of killers who made a new sharia from they sheikhs and not the mercy book of God the Quran.

    7. quranist says:

      Al Azhar believes in executing apostates. It also believes in child marriages and stoning adulterers and flogging people for drinking alcohol etc. It believes that women are inferior and divorce is in the hands of men. It believes in holding female captives as slaves and allows having sex with them ie rape. The only difference is ISIS wants to apply them while Al Azhar wants to wiggle with International law and UN.

    8. Linda Thibault says:

      and where the heck did you get this Quranist? You where talking with them in Al Azhar?

    9. quranist says:

      . We Quranist have been warning you all for decades but you did not want to listen and still do not want to listen. Sharia law has NOTHING to do with the Quran. I posted a video showing the curriculum Azhar teaches their students. Its exactly the same as ISIS. Sharia law is derived from hadiths that were planted by the enemies of Islam. It has nothing to do with Islam. Islam is the Quran and Quran is Islam. Quran is peace. Egyptians want Sharia law but complain about ISIS. Hypocrisy at its best.

    10. Linda Thibault says:

      Non sense. It has nothing to do with it. This is a organized group that has nothing to do with religion, yet, they use the name of God just to make Muslims seen as if they where all extremists. It is a big plot, a big organization and world wide one also . Someone wants to destroy many arab countries.

    11. quranist says:

      Stop fooling yourself. ISIS are Sunnis who believe in Sharia law that Muslims also believe. Shias also follow the same Sharia law. There is nothing ISIS is doing that is against Sharia law. As a Quranist I know very well where ISIS gets their beliefs from. From the hadiths of Bukhari and Muslim and the fatwas of the four Imams of Sunni Islam. Sunnis and Shias get their Shariah from the hadiths collections and not Quran.

    12. quranist says:

      Al Azhar and ISIS are brothers in faith. No difference between them. Ahmed Maher shows us the Azhar curriculum that promotes terrorism. All this of course is against the teachings of the Quran.

    13. Key says:

      Correction: Al Azhar teaches moderate Islam the way it is supposed to be. ISIS is rooted to the MB to you terrorists how hunger for blood and power via Religion

    14. quranist says:

      Moderate islam? You sound like sisi. Stop fooling yourself. Azhar and isis follows the same islam. They are just not honest.

    15. Key says:

      What on earth are you talking about? Linda hit the bulls eye and told you like it is. Whether you MB terrorist accept it or not that is a fact. There is no distinction between you, ISIS, boko, MB, Shabab, Hamas, etc.. you are all one which is to kill for power period. Nothing Godly or Spiritual in that what you do. Hiding under religion to recruit and serve the greater good of your master (Morshid) for the purpose of power has nothing to do with the Sunna. There is NOTHING Godly or spiritual that the said terrorist organizations do

    16. diabran says:

      ISIS is after Blood. They use the words in the Quran, ( Outdated and never truth ) to get that blood. They will destroy the history of the Middle East, then the World. Someone needs to stop them! Hell, even our President is on their side, so it sure will not be the US.

    17. quranist says:

      Isis follows sunni Islam and not quran. Stop lying.

    18. Stew Sidaway says:

      problem is that’s what both sides are thinking, that god is on their side

    19. Key says:

      Correction, the extremist terrorist group use God as an excuse to recruit while knowing they are in it for power.

    20. willy says:

      Isaiah 19:2-3

  2. David Yacob says:

    It’s RPG, not RBG. ‘Rocket propelled grenade’.

    1. That Guy says:

      Actually, RPG stands for Ruchnoi Protivotankovye Granatamyot, or
      РПГ, ручной противотанковый гранатомёт. Which translates to “hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher”.
      Rocket-propelled grenade is a backronym.