CAIRO: The United States said that it was looking to bolster its cooperation with Egypt over counterterror activities after an attack on the Sinai border with Gaza and Israel left 16 soldiers dead and 7 injured on Sunday. According to the US State Department, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave condolences to Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Qandil and said she supports Cairo's effort to increase security in Sinai. State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said that “violent extremism poses a threat to Egyptians, Egypt's neighbors and Americans alike," and that the US is committed to strengthening US counterterror work with Egypt. An Egyptian official was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying, “Jihadist elements" had crossed into Egypt from the Gaza Strip before launching the assault on a border police station. They then stole two armored vehicles and tried to smash their way into Israel, but were killed by Israeli troops on the border. Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Monday that 8 attackers died in the attack, adding that he hoped the incident would serve as a “wake-up call" to Egypt, which he has long said is losing its grip in Sinai. “The bodies of the five gunmen have been found by the Israeli army," an Israeli spokesman said without giving any details. Eyewitnesses said the attack came as the soldiers at the checkpoint were breaking their Ramzan fast. They said the soldiers were caught totally off guard and had no chance to retaliate. On Monday morning, Morsi held an emergency meeting with military and intelligence officials and later in a televised address vowed to retake control of the Sinai. “The security forces will take full control of the area," the president said.
