North Sinai security forces killed 14 militants and arrested 13 suspects within the framework of the “Martyr’s Right” military operation in Arish, Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid , said army spokesman on Friday.
This brings the total number of militants killed in the operation's second phase, over the past week, to 112, according to separate statements by military spokesman.
Aswat Masriya could not independently verify the content of the army statement. Anti-terrorism legislation imposes heavy fines on news organisations that contradict official statements.
The military operation’s first phase kicked off last September and was dubbed by the military as Egypt’s “largest” military action against “terrorists” in North Sinai. It has claimed the lives of more than 500 militants in the area.
Security forces have been engaged in a "war against terrorism" as militancy surged significantly in North Sinai since the military's ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, following mass protests against his rule.
Since October 2014, Sinai has been under a state of emergency, which was subjected to repeated renewals, following a large-scale militant attack on the Karm al-Qawadis checkpoint in Sheikh Zeweid, which resulted in the death of 33 Egyptian soldiers. The attack was later claimed by ISIS-affiliated "Sinai Province".
