Video shows downing of Egypt’s army helicopter

The al-Qaeda inspired group that has claimed responsibility for downing an Egyptian military helicopter in the Sinai Peninsula on Saturday has posted a video on YouTube about the operation.

The Ansar Beit al-Maqdis group, which has taken responsibility for a series of deadly attacks across the country, said its fighters brought down the helicopter on Saturday with a missile that killed five soldiers.

The military said the soldiers were killed in a helicopter “accident” as they pursued militants in the restive peninsula.

However, the video showed a militant, whose face was blurred, carrying a rocket and trying to target the helicopter. The helicopter then appeared falling down in flames.

A voiced could be heard in the video warning the military-backed interim government “to learn lessons over what had happened in Libya, Syria and other Muslim countries.”

In Libya, rebels including Islamists battled Muammar Qaddafi’s forces, leading to the leader's ouster in 2011.

In Syria, President Bashar al-Assad's regime is under constant attack by rebel forces that are fighting its forces after the start of the uprising three years ago.

“Think of Mubarak; America didn't help him or prevent his downfall,” the militant said.

The Jan. 25 revolution in Egypt ended Mubarak’s three-decade rule, leading to the election of the country's first civilian President Mohammad Mursi in 2012.

However, Mursi, who belonged to the Muslim Brotherhood, was toppled by a popularly-backed coup in July 30, angering his Islamist supporters, who demanded his reinstatement as the country’s legitimate leader.

Describing the group as the “soldiers of God’s,” and “will fight whoever fights God,” the militant vowed: “If you don’t repent, we will keep on targeting your army.”

The army has consolidated its presence in northern Sinai after recurrences of attacks targeting both police and the army, which killed 25 soldiers since August till this date.