A preemptive security operation recently carried out by Egypt’s Interior Ministry has highlighted growing concerns over the country’s volatile borders, which security sources say are being exploited by armed groups to stage attempted “hostile operations” inside Egypt.
The ministry announced on Sunday that it had foiled a planned terrorist attack by the outlawed Hasm movement, an armed wing of the banned Muslim Brotherhood.
According to the statement, one of the group’s operatives, trained in advanced military tactics abroad, attempted to infiltrate Egypt illegally to carry out sabotage activities.
A security source revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the suspect, who was killed in a raid along with other militants, had previously trained in Libya and had also resided in Sudan. “He crossed into Egypt illegally before planning the attack,” the source said.
The Interior Ministry said it had received intelligence indicating that Hasm’s leadership, currently operating from Türkiye, was preparing to revive the group’s militant activities, targeting economic and security installations across the country.
This information follows a video posted online two weeks ago, allegedly by Hasm, in which masked gunmen are shown conducting live-fire drills in a desert environment, accompanied by a written statement threatening new attacks.
Security officials say parts of the video were compiled from old footage, but some clips showed recent training sessions in Libya, prompting intensified surveillance and tracking efforts.
The ministry stated that the raid on the militant hideout was met with heavy gunfire from the suspects, leading to a firefight in which the terrorists were killed. Tragically, a civilian passerby was also killed, and a police officer was injured while attempting to rescue the wounded man.
Former Interior Ministry spokesperson Gen. Hany Abdel Latif praised the operation as a “significant success,” noting Egypt’s sustained security dominance. However, he cautioned that “this does not mean terrorism has been eradicated. It remains a threat, both here and globally.”
Abdel Latif pointed to Egypt’s “volatile borders”, particularly with Libya, Sudan, and Gaza, as persistent vulnerabilities. “These frontiers provide opportunities for extremists to infiltrate and plot attacks,” he said.
He warned that the Hasm movement - despite being weakened – continues to have active operatives and ideological remnants capable of regrouping. “We must remain vigilant. The threat is ongoing, and no warning should be underestimated,” he underlined.
