Terrorist groups launched a new wave of attacks in Sinai, after armed militants blew up a gas pipeline leading into Jordan. This comes after four attacks launched on security checkpoints in the two Sinai border cities of Sheikh Zuweid and Rafah. Witnesses in the Al-Muhajir neighbourhood of Al-Arish said they heard loud explosions near the city's gas pipelines Sunday morning, and saw large clouds of smoke rise into the sky. Fire trucks were reported to have rushed to the area in order to put out any flames that may have been caused by the explosion. A source within the North Sinai Security Directorate stated that four security checkpoints were attacked by unknown assailants late Saturday night in the cities of Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid. The checkpoints were set up along the western entrance to Sheikh Zuweid, in the neighbourhood of Al-Zuhur, in front of the city's central hospital and in the village of Abu Tawila. Soldiers operating the checkpoints responded by firing upon the assailants, who retreated and fled into the surrounding desert. Surveillance planes intensified their flight over the two cities in an attempt to track the terrorists. Authorities would not report the number of dead or wounded. Egypt's gas pipeline leading into Jordan has been attacks many times in the past, with the last attack occurring over one year ago.
