(Photo from State of Sinai Twitter account)
Islamic State-affiliated militant group “State of Sinai” claimed it was behind a military parade in North Sinai by posting series of photos Sunday via their official Twitter account.
The photos showcase a dozen high-end pickup trucks with militants carrying weapons on board of each of them. The timing and location of photos could not be verified.
However, several reports circulated which described two military parades taking place over the last week. One was in Sheikh Zuweid, the other was in Rafah.
Sinai researcher Mohannad Sabry told Daily News Egypt that the Egyptian army is engaged with North Sinai militants in “a propaganda war”. However, the photos posted by “State of Sinai” have no value, as they could be old if not verified by residents living in the area.
A North Sinai resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, confirmed the parades took place, one of them in south Sheikh Zuweid, and the other on Friday in Masourah near Rafah.
The resident added that the parades were not stopped by security forces.
Sabry added that with the dense security presence in North Sinai, the Egyptian state should be questioned regarding the presence of military parades by militant groups that travel without being stopped.
Military expert Brigadier-General Khaled Okasha said the photos posted on behalf of the group are “fake” and were most likely taken in “Iraq”.
Okasha said that it is part of the “propaganda war”.
However, he added that the incident might have taken place as the militant group chose areas with a security absence. North Sinai is a “vast open area” where security presence comprises of security forces passing by on “intermittent patrols”.
The militants monitor the hours of patrols and exploit the security absence, during which they come out and display their power, take photos, and return to their hideouts before the time of the other security patrol, he said.
He referred to a December video by the group showing gunmen stopping cars at a checkpoint on the Arish-Rafah international road and claiming power over the area. He said that the checkpoint was set up just for 15 minutes to videotape it, “to give the impression of being in control”.
