The Armed Forces denied reports that it halted its operation against militants in Sinai, vowing to never negotiate with them.
After the killing of 16 Egyptian border guards at the border with Israel in August, the army launched its biggest campaign in four decades to tackle militants in the peninsula.
Israel has long accused Palestinian militant groups of crossing from Gaza to Egypt to join local militants aiming to attack the Israeli border. In August 2011, armed militants entered Israel and killed eight Israelis near the border.
Army spokesperson Ahmed Ali said in a statement that the Sinai operation has successfully paved the way for comprehensive development in the peninsula, with the help of Sinai’s inhabitants, whom he called an integral part of the great Egyptian people.
The statement called on the media to accurately report the news and refer to the military spokesperson for information.
