Egypt's armed forces have killed 10 "terrorists" in North Sinai as part of its campaign against Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis and other extremists, according to the army spokesman. On his official Facebook page, Brigadier-General Mohammed Samir said that through the weekend all ten were killed in crossfire with the armed forces in North Sinai. The armed forces also managed to arrest 54 "terrorist/criminal elements" in North Sinai, Ismailia and Daqahliya governorates. In addition, operations resulted in destroying 12 unlicensed vehicles used in terrorist attacks, as well as 100 terrorist headquarters and two weapons/ammunition warehouses. North Sinai has witnessed intensifying activity of the armed forces after a major militant attack claimed by Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis killed over 30 army personnel and injured dozens in October. A presidential decree declared a state of emergency in particular areas of North Sinai last month. A decision of evacuating locals from border areas with Gaza, where terrorists are believed to amass, followed this step. According to the state-owned MENA news agency, the Egyptian army has destroyed over 1,813 tunnels used for smuggling in North Sinai since 2011. An unprecedented attack took place in Egyptian Mediterranean waters last week, leaving five navy personnel injured and eight missing. A number of unidentified masked men claimed responsibility for the Damietta attack in a video published Friday on social media websites. The navy attack happened two days after an audio statement released on social media claimed that Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State organisation. Source : Ahram online
