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Egyptian security forces killed 18 suspected Islamists in a shooting in the troubled northern part of the Sinai Peninsula, the country’s interior ministry said.
Egyptian military patrol in northern Sinai. Stock Photography.
According to a statement there, the operation was carried out after receiving notifications that “terrorist elements” were at a residence in the city of Bir al-Abd, where they planned hostile acts.
“His hiding place was attacked and a fire broke out that killed 18 people,” he says.
According to the statement, 13 automatic weapons, two suicide belts and three other explosive charges were also found in the house.
On Thursday, the army confirmed that an armored vehicle suffered an explosive attack on the outskirts of Bir al-Abd. Ten soldiers, including an officer, died or were injured in that attack.
He was followed by two suspected Islamists killed on Friday in northern Sinai, according to the army.
Security forces have always tried to defeat the jihadist uprising in northern Sinai, which has intensified since President Mohammad Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood was deposed in 2013.
Crowds of police, military and suspected jihadists have been killed, and in February 2018 Egypt launched a major offensive to eradicate the uprising.
