[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Militant target security forces in Sinai Peninsula, Christians intermittently
In a major development in North Africa, 52 Egyptian security personnel were killed during a clash with the suspected Daesh (IS) affiliate terrorist group in the western deserts on Friday. Militants have reportedly used rocket propelled grenades and explosive devices. However, interior ministry has not released the casualty figures of either militants or police.
Egypt Independent daily quoting an official statement reports, “a number of policemen” were killed during a shootout that took place when the police forces were attempting to raid the hideout, leading to an exchange of fire initiated by the militants.
Egyptian authorities on Saturday said two police operations were moving in on a suspected militant hideout on Friday when one of the patrols came under fire from heavy weapons.
Interestingly, neither Egyptian nor the western media have called the attackers as terrorists. Instead, the attackers were called militants by most media houses. However Daesh (IS) is considered to be the most dreaded group creating havoc in Syria and Iraq.
Interior ministry said 16 police personnel were killed in that part of operation, and 13 were wounded. At least 15 militants were also killed in the gun fight. However, official statement did not give details on any casualties in the other police patrol.
Egyptian security forces have been waging war against insurgents in North Sinai for past over four years.
The raid was reportedly took place after police national security unit was informed of the hideout, located in Bahariya Oasis, a vast area of 135 kms, situated some 370 km from Cairo.
Some experts, while participating in a debate show at Aljazeera TV on Saturday, have suspected militants infiltration into government intelligence agencies.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Initially Egyptian media linked Hasm, a smaller group to the attack but later was revealed as false. Hasm Movement has been involved in several attacks on judges and police around Cairo.
Egyptian authorities consider Hasm Movement as an armed militant wing of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), an outlawed group headed by former President Mohamed Morsi. The MB leader was the first democratically elected president of the country after the ouster of Hosni Mubarak in 2011. General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the incumbent President, had removed Morsi from office in 2013.
Since Sisi came to power, hundreds of troops and police have been killed by militants in North Sinai region. Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, an IS affiliate, has been active in the region.
As recent as last Sunday, North Sinai witnessed killing of 24 militants and six soldiers. More than 100 militants had repeatedly attacked security outposts south of the border town of Sheikh Zuweid, close to Israel.
Militants generally hit police and armed forces in Sinai Peninsula. However, they have extended their campaign by frequently targeting Christians with bomb attacks on churches in the capital Cairo and other places.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]