18 Policemen killed In North Sinai Attack Claimed By ISIS

At least 18 policemen have been killed and three injured on Monday in a terrorist attack claimed by the Islamic State in North Sinai’s city of Al-Arish.

An anonymous security source told Al-Ahram that three militants have been killed in the attack as well.

While Egypt’s Ministry of Interior didn’t comment on the attack, a ministry official confirmed it to the state news agency MENA.

The militants detonated an improvised explosive device and destroyed four armored vehicles and a signal-jamming vehicle. After destructing the vehicles, the attack turned later into a gunfight and four ambulance workers were injured, according to Reuters.

The Islamic state claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released by Amaaq, the group’s news agency.

North Sinai has been caught in a crossfire between Egypt’s security forces and militants since the ouster of the former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi. According to the military, thousands of militants have been killed in the operations held against them. However, Sinai residents claim that these thousands include civilians.

Once limiting their operations to North Sinai, the terrorist groups have recently started to carry out terrorist attacks in different governorates in Egypt including Cairo the capital.