Security forces killed seven “very dangerous takfiri elements loyal to the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist group” in an aerial attack in the Sinai Peninsula on Wednesday.
The spokesman for the armed forces released a statement on Thursday revealing the details of the “aerial bombardment of two houses” in Sheikh Zuweid thought to have belonged to militants.
The seven men were named in the armed forces’ statement, including Gamil Suleiman Al-Zerei. The military believed they have been involved in an armed attack on a security checkpoint near the town of Rafah in August 2012, which left 16 dead and 7 others injured. In response to the attack the security forces embarked on a campaign to crack down on militants operating in the volatile peninsula.
The operation on Wednesday also destroyed a vehicle equipped with an “anti-aircraft machine gun” that is thought to have been used in attacks on security forces, said the spokesman.
In December 2013 the armed forces announced it had killed Mohamed Masbah, also known as Abu Khaled, who was also thought to have been involved in the August 2012 checkpoint.
Security forces have continued to crack down on militants in Sinai who have targeted government and security installations. The frequency and scale of the attacks have increased following the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi last July. The security forces retaliated by intensifying their response.
