A high-profile military source has denied rumors about the kidnapping of eight navy personnel who were boarding a military launch in Damietta that was subject of an attack by unknown assailers on Wednesday.
The military official stressed that the eight missing soldiers had rather drowned at a spot 40 miles offshore, adding that search is ongoing for them. The source argued that the allegations of the soldiers’ kidnapping were designed to belittle the forces’ success in killing dozens of attackers and arresting some.
He, however, added that those arrested near the scene of the assault would be released if investigations acquit them.
The attack by unknown elements boarding a motorboat was the first against navy forces since extremist groups set on a series of bloody attacks against police and army forces after the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsy in 2014.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
