Egyptian security forces hampered Sunday an attack that was set to target a security checkpoint in North Sinai's Sheikh Zuweid city, the Egyptian military said. In an official statement, army spokesman Brigadier General Mohamed Samir said that security forces "were able to thwart the attack after they monitored a gathering of militants near the checkpoint based on intelligence information, killing them through strikes conducted by air forces and field artillery." The statement did not include information about the number of militants killed in the "pre-emptive strike." The army spokesman also shared information regarding the army's major hits in the last couple of days, announcing the killing of 14 militants in a shootout during combing and raid operations in the areas of Al-Arish, Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid. He added that the killed militants possessed three fire machine guns, 234 bullets, two grenades, and wireless devices. The security forces were also able to arrest 12 suspects, two of whom were wanted, as well as dismantling an improvised explosive device (IED) that was to be planted targeting moving forces. According to the army, the latest announced hits against militants come in continuation of the "Martyrs' Right" operation, a comprehensive joint military and police operation that started in September 2015. Egypt's security forces have been fighting a decade-long Islamist insurgency in parts of North Sinai that spiked following the 2013 ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. source: Ahram Online
