A conscript has been injured by gunshot while on duty in Sheikh Zuweid Tuesday, and was transferred to hospital following the attack, reported state-run news agency MENA. The military spokesman's office has, however, denied the occurrence of the incident. MENA reported as well on the killing of three militants and the arrests of eight suspects during a security crackdown in Al-Arish, Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid Militant operations have been on the rise despite ongoing armed forces counterterrorism efforts in the restive Sinai Peninsula, aiming mainly to "ultimately eliminate terrorism". Sinai-based militant group "State of Sinai" has claimed responsibility for almost all the attacks taking place in the peninsula targeting security personnel, facilities and alleged informers. In a video released on 9 February, the militant group claimed the beheading of eight civilians over the past month for collaborating with the Egyptian army and Israeli intelligence. The group swore to avenge the militants killed during counterinsurgency operations by the armed forces. The incident was not the first of its kind, with the group claiming many beheadings, the first of which was in August 2014. It beheaded four men, which it captured in a video for allegedly providing information to Israeli intelligence. The attacks are claimed through the group's active Twitter account where the videos and photos of the group's operations and militant training are posted regularly. "State of Sinai" was formerly known as Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis prior to pledging allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) in November.
