Dozens of Egyptian Soldiers Killed in Sinai Attacks
Local Editor
Terrorist militants Wednesday unleashed a wave of simultaneous attacks, including a suicide car bombing, on Egyptian army checkpoints in the restive north of the Sinai Peninsula, killing at least 30 soldiers, security and military officials said.
The attacks took place just south of the town of Sheikh Zuweid and targeted at least six military checkpoints, the officials said. The militants also took soldiers captive and seized several armored vehicles, they added, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
The attacks came just two days after the assassination in Cairo of the country's top prosecutor, Hisham Barakat and just one day after President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi vowed to step up a two-year crackdown on militants.
Militants in northern Sinai have battled security forces for years but stepped up their attacks following the July 2013 military ouster of Brotherhood President Mohammad Mursi after days of mass street protests against his rule.
Wednesday's attacks came in swift response to Sisi's pledge the previous day to carry out justice for the prosecutor general's assassination - and possibly move to execute Brotherhood leaders.
Pounding his fist as he spoke Tuesday at the funeral of Barakat, who led the prosecution and oversaw scores of cases against thousands of extremists, Sisi's comments seemed to signal an even tougher campaign on the Brotherhood.
Sisi said the government was ready to brush aside criticisms and free the judiciary's hand for a "battle" the country is prepared to wage.
"The judiciary is restricted by laws, and swift justice is also restricted by laws. We will not wait for that," he added.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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