By: Ashraf Sadek CAIRO, March 7, 2018 - THE comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018 will end only when it fully achieves its set objectives, a military spokesman told a press conference in Cairo on Thursday, adding that the army is determined to confront terrorism strongly and decisively. Colonel Tamer el-Riffai told military reporters that Sinai 2018, which entered its 29th day yesterday, was progressing very well in purging Northern and Central Sinai of terrorist and criminal elements. Since the beginning of the operation, Col. el-Riffai said, the Second and Third Field Armies with the participation of Police elements in Northern and Central Sinai had -until yesterday - eliminated 105 terrorists and rounded up more than 2,892 fugitives. The army destroyed 1,907 hideouts, which the terrorist elements used for storing their arms and logistic supplies, Col. Tamer said. The military operations in Central and Northern Sinai -also until yesterday- had resulted in destroying 198 cars and 387 motor cycles, he said, adding that 16 army personnel had been killed and 19 others wounded since the start of Operation Sinai 2018. "More than 1,907 huts, hideouts and warehouses containing chemical materials that are used in manufacturing explosives, wireless communications devices, drugs and spare parts were also seized,س he said, adding that 471 explosive devices were dismantled by military engineers. He said that the army careful to not harm civilians and only targets terrorists and their positions in Central and Northern Sinai. Col. el-Riffai paid tribute to the patriotic role of the Armed Forces and police personnel in the service of the nation.
