The armed forces have killed 70 militants, arrested 118, including two Palestinians and 95 suspects, and destroyed 27 militant hideouts in Al-Arish, Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid. The moves occurred as part of army operations during the first seven days of March, according to a military spokesman's statement Sunday. He further noted that Ashraf Moussa, a "State of Sinai" leader, was among the militants killed. The army launched airstrikes and ground forces to destroy militant hideouts in North Sinai. The military spokesman announced the killing of 173 militants during February, following the large scale militant attack on security facilities and personnel on 29 January that left at least 30 personnel dead. However, North Sinai based militant group, "State of Sinai", claimed responsibility for the attacks whilst also claiming that "hundreds" were killed. Last week, "State of Sinai", formerly known as Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, claimed in a statement that the armed forces' "indiscriminate shelling" killed a civilian. They also provided photos of houses allegedly destroyed following the army's airstrikes. The armed forces have repeatedly noted, however, that the crackdown in North Sinai is targeting militants as part of "ultimately eliminating terrorism". The 5km area along the Egypt-Gaza border is currently being evacuated to create a buffer zone to destroy all tunnels leading in and out of Sinai.
