Forces affiliated to the third field army managed on Monday to kill seven militants in a large-scale sweeping operation conducted in central Sinai. Three other militants were injured in the operation, according to a statement issued by army’s official spokesperson.
The statement noted that the forces arrested six militants and five other suspects believed to be informants providing militants with details about the third field army’s movements.
Moreover, the statement asserted that, during the aforementioned sweeping operation, air strikes destroyed two stationing points and several underground bunkers affiliated with the militants, containing a large quantity of drugs.
Meanwhile, the armed forces’ Chief of Staff Mahmoud Hegazy met on Monday with chairperson of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Military Committee Petr Pavel, who is currently in Egypt on an official visit and is being accompanied by a military delegation, the army spokesperson said in a statement.
The meeting saw the discussion of updates and conditions on both the regional and international arenas, in addition to the current status of the Middle East. Hegazy and Pavel also exchanged views on Libya and major efforts to fight terrorism.
During the meeting, Hegazy emphasised the strength of bilateral relations between Egypt and the NATO, asserting that these stem from both sides’ eagerness to cooperate in order to maintain security and peace in the Middle East, the statement added.
From his side, Pavel praised Egypt’s effective role in fighting terrorism and extremism. He further expressed NATO’s support to Egypt in eliminating terrorism and maintaining the Middle East’s peace and stability.
