Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said the sacrifices of Egyptian security forces killed by militants on Friday "will not go in vain," in a meeting with the defence and interior ministers as well as other security officials. According to a statement released by the presidency, Sisi received during the meeting detailed reports on the incident. The interior ministry has said 16 policemen were killed and 13 were injured in a shootout with terrorist in Egypt's Western Desert. The ministry also said that 15 terrorist were killed or injured in the attack. Sisi said in the meeting that "war against terror has a different nature than organized warfare." He also commanded the armed forces and police for saving Egypt over the past years from meeting the same fate of countries plagued with terrorism, the presidency statement said. "These heroes have set an example in bravery and dedication to their homeland, and their sacrifices will not go in vain," Sisi said, according to the statement. He also called on officials to exert all possible efforts to capture the terrorist elements involved in the shootout. "Egypt will keep confronting terrorism as well as those who fund and stand behind it with everything in its power [...] until it is exterminated," El-Sisi added. The interior ministry said on Saturday the shootout lasted for hours after security forces attempted to raid a hideout of terrorists, who were armed with heavy weapons. Source: Ahram online
