Bomb kills 2 Egyptian troops in Sinai

Cairo - A roadside bomb struck an Egyptian army vehicle late on
Thursday killing an officer and a soldier in the insurgent flashpoint of
the Sinai Peninsula, security officials said.

The attack occurred south of the town of El-Arish, scene of frequent
attacks by Islamist militants on security forces.
One army officer and a soldier were killed in the blast, while another
soldier was wounded.

Egypt's military has been battling an insurgency on the peninsula
since it overthrew Islamist president Mohammed Morsi last year and
cracked down on his supporters.

The government declared a state of emergency in parts of North Sinai
after a 24 October suicide attack near El-Arish killed 30 soldiers in the
deadliest assault on security forces since Morsi's ouster.

Militant groups claim their attacks are in retaliation for a
government crackdown targeting Morsi's supporters that has left
hundreds dead and thousands jailed.

- AFP

Read More

Egypt army destroys more Gaza tunnels

Cairo - Egypt's army said on Sunday it has destroyed 13 more tunnels connecting the Sinai Peninsula to the Gaza Strip, taking to 1 639 the overall number it has laid waste to.

Cairo has poured troops into the peninsula to counter a rising insurgency since the ouster of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi last year, and its security operation involves the destruction of these tunnels.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is the main power in Gaza, reportedly uses the tunnels to smuggle arms, food and money into the blockaded coastal enclave.


Israel has been waging a military offensive on Gaza since 8 July to halt rocket fire, and it launched a ground assault on 17 July aimed at destroying the network of tunnels.

It accuses Hamas of using the tunnels to attacks on Israel.

Ties between Hamas and Cairo have deteriorated since the Egyptian army deposed Morsi on 3 July 2013. Hamas is an affiliate of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood.

Cairo also accuses of Hamas of being involved in militant attacks inside Egypt, which have multiplied since Morsi was toppled.

Militant groups say their attacks are in retaliation for a police crackdown on Morsi's supporters.

The crackdown has seen more than 1 400 people killed in street clashes.

Read More