Cairo, March 19 – The security forces killed 36 kakfiris in an exchange of fire and arrested 345 others in Central and North Sinai as part of a comprehensive military operation to uproot terror hotbeds there, the army said in its 16th televised communiqué on Monday. The security troops, comprising military and police forces, eliminated 12 terrorist hideouts, seized 17 cars and destroyed 67 motorbikes in Central and North Sinai, the communiqué said. The security forces seized large quantities of arms and ammunition, and found a communication centre used by the terrorists. The forces eliminated two warehouses with 2,800 kg of bhang and 7,430 kg of drugs. The troops also destroyed 33 farms of bhang. One officer and three soldiers were martyred in the raids. Two army officers, a warrant officer and five soldiers were injured.
