At least eighteen militants were killed during army raids in Egypt’s restive north Sinai province.
Four wanted militants belonging to the Sinai-based militant group, Ansar Beit el-Maqdes, which changed it’s name to Sinai Province after it pledged allegiance to Islamic State, were also arrested yesterday as the army had launched ground and aerial offensives against terrorists’ hideouts in Sheikh Zuweid and Rafah, a security source said.
North Sinai has witnessed many violent attacks by militants since the January 2011 revolution that toppled the ex-president Hosni Mubarak.
The attacks targeting police and military increased after the ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.
Over 500 security personnel have been reported killed since then.
The military has launched frequent security campaigns in the area, arrested suspects and demolished houses that belong to terrorists, including those facilitating tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip.
