Egyptian security forces have killed 15 suspected militants in a shootout during a raid on their hideout near al-Arish, the capital of North Sinai province, state news agency MENA and security sources said on Wednesday.
The men were suspected of planning attacks on security checkpoints ahead of the 45th anniversary of Egypt’s October 6 1973 war with Israel, the sources and MENA said, quoting an interior ministry statement.
The news agency did not identify the suspects nor say whether there had been any casualties or injuries among the security forces.
Police seized a number of automatic weapons in the raid on a farm West of al-Arish where the suspected militants were hiding, MENA said.
The raid comes as the Egyptian army, backed by police, push ahead with a military operation to crush Islamist militants behind a wave of attacks on civilians and military personnel in Sinai.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered the armed forces last November to defeat Islamist militants within three months after an attack on a mosque in Sinai killed more than 300 people.
Defeating the militants and restoring security after years of unrest has been a key promise of Sisi, who was re-elected in March.
-
Egypt security forces kill 11 suspected extremists in Sinai
Egyptian security forces have killed 11 suspected extremists in the Sinai Peninsula as they press a campaign against militants in the area, a security ... Middle East -
ISIS claims responsibility for Egypt attack on police checkpoint in Sinai
ISIS on Sunday claimed responsibility for an attack on an Egyptian police checkpoint in northern Sinai, the group’s Amaq news agency reported, ... Middle East -
Egypt says 12 ‘terrorists’ killed in Sinai shootout
Egyptian security forces have killed “terrorists” in a shootout in the north of the Sinai Peninsula, where ISIS is active, an interior ... Middle East -
Egyptian forces kill 52 militants in Sinai
Egyptian troops and security forces have killed at least 52 suspected militants in recent days, the army said in a statement on Sunday, as authorities ... Middle East