‘Sinai Province' claimed responsibility Monday for killing five soldiers after planting an improvised explosive device (IED) on their armoured tank in Al-Arish in the governorate of North Sinai. On its official Twitter account, the group published a statement detailing the attack that left at least five dead and more injured. "Thanks to Allah and as a part of the Apostates Hunting Invasion, ‘Caliphate Soldiers' were able to explode a planted IED on the soldiers' vehicle in the region of Zarae El Kheir south of Al-Arish City. It resulted in ending the lives of at least five soldiers. On a different note, clashes erupted in the region with infantry patrol from Apostates that left many among them injured," Sinai Province's statement read. On Sunday, the Egyptian armed forces declared its forces killed five militants following armed clashes in Sheikh Zuweid city in North Sinai. On the official spokesperson's Facebook page, the armed forces indicated that troops from the Second Field Army were on patrol when they were shot at by a number of militants. They received orders to open fire on the militants, killing five of them, according to the statement. Reports circulating on social media allege that an EMT, Rada El-Shaat, was killed by militants and that an officer and a solider were killed as a result of the IED planted under their tank. On Friday, a police officer was reportedly killed after being injured in clashes with militants in the city of Rafah. The officer was immediately transferred to Maadi Military Hospital to receive health care but died in the hospital. Last week, three soldiers were killed in an attack on an army patrol near Sheikh Zuweid. An IED ambush struck the patrol near Al-Wahshi checkpoint. At least one soldier was injured, according to local reports. The army is yet to officially release its account of the attack. Sinai has become the scene of frequent clashes between militants and state security forces; wide-spread counter-insurgency operations were launched to curb militancy within Sinai. These operations have imposed a state of emergency in the northern regions of the peninsula. State security forces launched their campaign called "Retribution for the Martyr", which resulted in the killing of hundreds of militants in the first and second phases of the operation. State security forces disrupted internet and phone services there for 12 hours on Saturday, they then carried out raids in the regions of Al-Arish, Sheikh Zuweid, and Rafah.
