Egyptian Defense Minister Sedki Sobhi noted Wednesday that jihadists in the Sinai Peninsula are using children as human shields in order to protect themselves against the Egyptian Army's efforts to eradicate them, according to Al-Arabiya. During a meeting with Military Academy students, Sobhi announced that he cancelled a raid on a house in Sinai after soldiers saw three children coming out from the house. He added that such tactics complicate the troops' task in countering terrorists, but will not deter the army from achieving its mission. According to security sources, eight alleged militants were killed and five others were injured during raids in the cities of Arish and Sheikh Zuwaid, the North Sinai.