Staff Report: Thirty-two highly-dangerous terrorists were eliminated and nine others were arrested in Central and Northern Sinai over the past few days as part of the comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018, which started on February 9, the Armed Forces said in a communiqué it issued Thursday. The troops seized many automatic rifles, as well as ammunition and explosive devices, which were in the terrorists' possession. Another 84 wanted criminals were arrested and referred to the authorities concerned for the proper legal action to be taken against them, the communiqué, the 24th since the start of the operation, said. Two vehicles loaded with arms and ammunition were also destroyed by the Air Force in the Western Desert, the communiqué said. In Central Sinai, the Armed Forces destroyed 21 targets, while the military engineers discovered and detonated 15 explosives that had been planted to target army personnel carrying out their missions in the theatre of operations, it added. Twenty cannabis and bhang farms along with 466 kilos of bhang, ready for distribution and sale, were also seized in Northern and Central Sinai, the communiqué added. It said that the Law Enforcement Forces spotted and destroyed 272 caches full of ammunition, explosive devices, computers, cameras, military uniforms, trans-receivers, money and books promoting extremist thought. The communiqué said that the latest operations were part of the intensive efforts exerted by the Armed Forces to eliminate terrorism in Central and Northern Sinai. In its action to secure the land crossings to and from Central Sinai, the Armed Forces seized a truck carrying narcotics, motorcycle spare parts, and explosives, west of Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel, said the communiqué, issued by the Armed Forces General Command. It added that the Border Guard forces had managed to seize five four-wheel-drive vehicles on the western border, carrying drugs, a sniper rifle, an automatic rifle and ammunition. They had also arrested 1099 infiltrators of different nationalities who were trying to enter the country illegally. The guards referred them to the authorities concerned for legal actions. The comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018 is the latest in a series of rounds in the war on terrorism called The Martyr's Right (Haq el-Shaheed). The present round is far-reaching and intensive.
