Three army personnel were killed and another injured Monday morning following an explosion in North Sinai’s Rafah, said the military spokesman.
The attack was claimed by Sinai-based militant group ‘State of Sinai’ on their official Twitter account, where the group claims almost all the attacks on security personnel and facilities in the area.
The military spokesman noted in a separate statement Monday that 57 “terrorists” were killed and 61 others arrested, of whom 51 were suspects between 9-19 April.
The militant group also claimed the killing of an army officer at a security checkpoint Monday following the morning attack.
Attacks on security personnel have been a frequent occurrence since the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi in 2013. However, North Sinai residents have become a target to the group as well.
Photos of the armed group went viral on social media showing alleged members distributing leaflets to North Sinai residents reiterating their threats on whoever “helps or collaborates in any way” with the Egyptian armed forces in ways that might “harm” the group’s members particularly, and calling on residents to join their side.
North Sinai residents previously told Daily News Egypt that leafleting has been going on in North Sinai for months.
Following up on their threats, the armed group shot or beheaded armed forces’ “informers” in North Sinai in several videos published via their Twitter account. The most recent incident was on 10 April showing the decapitation of an individual and the killing of a conscript by gunshots.
Sinai researcher Mohannad Sabry, along with other North Sinai residents, confirmed the daily occurrence of civilian deaths, as bodies are found on the roads of Rafah, Al-Arish and Sheikh Zuweid.
Sabry told Daily News Egypt that the security and safety of citizens is the responsibility of the nation. There are thousands of powerless civilians residing over there, stuck in the fight between both sides, he said.
