According to the BBC, Egypt’s Ministry of Interior revealed that eight Egyptian policemen were shot dead on Wednesday in a militant raid at a checkpoint in the northern Sinai city of El Arish. “Terrorist elements targeted a checkpoint west of El-Arish early this morning… The exchange of fire killed five terrorist elements and eight police were martyred,” the ministry statement said. Five terrorists were killed by Egyptian forces during the attack. Other terrorists fled the scene and were chased by security forces. It is unclear whether any of those who fled were captured or killed by security forces. It is a well-known fact that Egyptian military forces have been combating terrorist elements and extremist at the North of Sinai for the last years. As such, Northern Sinai is considered a closed military zone. Egypt’s military operation ‘Sinai 2018’ began on 9 February aiming to eliminate terrorism in the province, which has been troubled by an Islamist militant insurgency since 2013. The city of Arish has been particularly affected. In late May, Egypt’s military denied a report by Human Rights Watch in which the non-governmental organizations accuses the military apparatus of committing war…
Attack on Sinai Checkpoint Kills Eight Egyptian Security Officers
June 5, 2019
