(Photo from State of Sinai Twitter account)
Three civilians were found dead by gunshots Monday in Sheikh Zuweid, an incident which a North Sinai resident has described as a “daily occurrence” in North Sinai in statements to Daily News Egypt Tuesday.
The resident confirmed that five bodies were found dead, with gunshots, in South Al-Arish last Thursday, which he said has become “normal” in the area. “When someone disappears for more than a day, his family starts looking for his body.”
Furthermore, a security campaign was launched Tuesday morning that resulted in the arrest of 15 suspects and the destruction of a number of militant hideouts, state-run MENA reported.
Sinai-based militants, “State of Sinai”, responsible for almost all operations taking place in North Sinai, have previously claimed responsibility for killing several civilians for allegedly “collaborating with the Egyptian army”. The deaths are predominantly by gunshots, but in some cases the victims were decapitated.
Despite the group’s attempts to win residents over to their side through alleged social activity, ”State of Sinai” continuously threatens residents with death and decapitation through distributing leaflets in the area.
The latest of their decapitations was claimed in February, when the group posted a video showcasing the beheading of eight civilians.
The armed forces aim to “ultimately eliminate terrorism” from the peninsula through security campaigns targeting militants and their hideouts.
The crackdown launched by armed forces on North Sinai militants resulted in the deaths of 115 militants until mid-March, and a total of 173 militants throughout February, in Al-Arish, Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid, according to the military spokesperson’s statements.
