The Egyptian military said it killed a total of 173 people, whom it described as “terrorists”, in February through various means including helicopter strikes, raids and foiled suicide attempts in North Sinai’s three major cities. Armed forces spokesman Mohamed Samir said in a statement on Sunday that this comes “within the framework of the armed forces’ comprehensive plan to eradicate terrorism in the Sinai Peninsula.” The military operations were carried out in North Sinai’s largest city al-Arish, Rafah which borders the Gaza Strip and Sheikh Zuweid, not far from the border. The largest number of suspected militants killed is in Sheikh Zuweid, with over 120 killed. Among the operations featured in the statement is one in which security forces “targeted one of the terrorists’ headquarters during a meeting of 28 terrorists to prepare several improvised explosive devices ahead of using them against military and police personnel.” The result, the statement said, was the “complete destruction” of the headquarters and the “killing of all terrorists inside.” Other “terrorists” were killed during attempted attacks and bombings on security checkpoints and personnel. According to the statement, several of those killed belonged to Ansar Bayt…
