An IED was blown up in the path of a bus transporting soldiers to the western entrance of the northern Sinai city of Rafah in the Sadat region on Friday. No substantial injuries resulted from the explosion; ten soldiers suffered skin wounds due to fragments from the explosion. The first secretary of the Ministry of Health denied receiving any wounded soldiers in any of the hospitals after the explosion. The attack was not the only one after another IED was disarmed by security officials. Residents of the ‘Abo Refae' region south of Sheikh Zowayed city aided security forces by providing information regarding an explosive device planted on a road used by military vehicles. The Rafah – Sheikh Zowayed road in the Sadat area is known to constantly transport security forces; the second attempted attack occurred in the Sheikh Zowayed region. No specific group has claimed responsibility for the roadside explosion. Security forces comprised of military and police personnel spread out through Rafah after the wave of attacks while security forces attempt to apprehend the responsible parties. Security checkpoints were placed and a frisking operation is currently underway. A number of arrests have been made including those of Asaad al Kashef and Hamdeen Abo Faisal, leading members of the Al Jamaa Al Islamiya in Sinai. Security forces also guarded the headquarters of the main bank which has recently been under several attacks.
