On the 14th day of the intensive armed operation dubbed Sinai 2018, the armed forces announced Sunday that two officers and two soldiers were killed, in addition to one officer and three soldiers wounded during the operation against extremist groups. Ten alleged armed extremists were also killed. According to a statement from the military spokesperson Tamer El-Refaie, the alleged extremists were hiding in an abandoned building in Al-Arish. El-Refaie added that security forces targeted six terror targets, 145 dens and hideouts, and a number of tunnels. The forces also destroyed 14 vehicles that were set up to target security forces, and found six automatic rifles and an unspecified amount of ammunition. According to the statement, 245 suspects were arrested, though some of them were later released. Also, 39 explosive units were destroyed. On the western borders, air forces destroyed 11 vehicles carrying arms and ammunition. Moreover, naval forces and border guards have secured the borders in the west and south of the country and Egyptian coasts, according to the statement. Egypt's Armed Forces launched early in February the extensive military operation in Sinai. The operation, Sinai 2018, includes navy, air, and infantry forces. It aims to target "dens and ammunition storages that are being used by terrorist elements," according to a previous statement from the armed forces.
