(AFP File Photo)
A security campaign launched in south Sheikh Zuweid and Rafah resulted in the deaths of two militants and the arrests of 14 suspects, according to state-run news agency MENA.
Reports circulated that nine were injured in two bomb attacks Monday morning, targeting houses in the area of Al-Arish in North Sinai.
Among the injuries were three police officers and six civilians who were transferred to hospital for treatment. The news has yet to be confirmed by officials.
Similar explosions occur frequently in North Sinai mainly targeting security personnel.
North Sinai militant group “State of Sinai” is the main group operating in the area responsible for all the major attacks against security facilities, personnel and civilians who cooperate with the army.
Civilian casualties occur with almost the same frequency as security personnel whether intentionally or not.
To limit the insurgency in North Sinai, the army is implementing a buffer zone and imposed a limited state of emergency in certain areas in the restive area. Militant activities are still occurring despite the security measures.
The 5km buffer zone is primarily implemented to avoid the infiltration of terrorists between Egypt and the Gaza Strip through the smuggling tunnels between both territories. President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, backed by the media, referred to “foreign element” involvement in Sinai.
The Rafah border between Egypt and the Palestinian territories, which has been mostly closed for the past two years, is to be opened on Tuesday to Thursday.
The border was opened last week for seven days, the longest period since the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi in 2013. It came as a sign of alleviating tension between Egypt and Hamas, the Palestinian movement controlling the Gaza strip.
Hamas has been a Muslim Brotherhood supporter and, following Morsi’s ouster, its relations with the Egyptian government deteriorated when a court rule designated the movement “terrorist” last February.
However, the court’s ruling was cancelled in May and was followed by the opening of the border.
Senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Zahar previously told Daily News Egypt that there is an agreement between the movement and Egyptian authorities, although he did not specify its terms.
