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Egypt: Capturing Three Accused of ‘Terrorism’ in North Sinai

Three accused of terrorism who were captured by the Egyptian Army Forces in Sinai, Saturday. Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic.
Three accused of terrorism who were captured by the Egyptian Army Forces in Sinai, Saturday. Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic.
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Egypt: Capturing Three Accused of ‘Terrorism’ in North Sinai

Three accused of terrorism who were captured by the Egyptian Army Forces in Sinai, Saturday. Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic.
Three accused of terrorism who were captured by the Egyptian Army Forces in Sinai, Saturday. Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic.

Army forces arrested three Takfiris and a four-wheeled car hidden in a cave in the middle of the Sinai desert, as well as explosive materials used to make improvised explosive device (IED), Armed Forces spokesperson Tamer al-Refaei said on Saturday.

Refaei added that the forces seized four motorcycles, belonging to the members, in addition to a truck loaded with spare motorcycle parts.

In a related matter, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi held on Saturday a meeting with Defense Minister Gen. Sedki Sobhy, Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar, Director of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate Major General Khaled Fawzy, and Secretary-General of the Defense Ministry Muhammad Farid Hegazy.

Presidency Spokesman Alaa Youssef said that Sisi was informed of the measures to be taken to secure Egypt’s land and maritime borders, as well as retain full control over crossing points, addressing the relevant authorities’ high level of preparation to confront terrorism.

Major General Fouad Allam stated to Asharq Al-Awsat that capturing those accused of supporting terrorism in Sinai indicates wide-success and reassurance since this proves that the armed forces are in control of crossing ports and roads.

Allam added that the detained represent a treasure of information to the security bodies – this will facilitate capturing terrorist groups in Sinai and foiling potential operations in the future.

Maj. Gen. Mohammed Noureddine, the former assistant to the minister of interior, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the last two operations in east and west Egypt show that the Egyptian security bodies are in an ongoing war that needs support from the interior.

Egyptian police and army are being victims of recurring attacks, mainly in Sinai, since the ousting of Mohammed Morsi in 2013.

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Damascus Says Israel Arrested Civilians During Beit Jin Raid

Residents sit outside their house in the Beit Jin village, southern Syria, where Israeli troops made a pre-dawn raid, arresting several alleged members of Hamas, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP)
Residents sit outside their house in the Beit Jin village, southern Syria, where Israeli troops made a pre-dawn raid, arresting several alleged members of Hamas, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP)
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Damascus Says Israel Arrested Civilians During Beit Jin Raid

Residents sit outside their house in the Beit Jin village, southern Syria, where Israeli troops made a pre-dawn raid, arresting several alleged members of Hamas, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP)
Residents sit outside their house in the Beit Jin village, southern Syria, where Israeli troops made a pre-dawn raid, arresting several alleged members of Hamas, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP)

A source at the Syrian Interior Ministry denied Israeli claims that its forces had arrested Palestinian Hamas members during a raid on the southern village of Beit Jin in the early hours of Thursday.

The source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the detainees were civilians and not affiliated with any party.

Saleh Daher, a resident of Beit Jin, told Asharq Al-Awsat the Israeli soldiers entered the village at 2:40 am on Thursday.

“We were awakened by the sound of gunfire,” he revealed. A unit of dozens of soldiers were raiding the village, while ten tanks were stationed at its entrance.

The forces surrounded the houses of the people they wanted to arrest, calling out their names on loudspeakers. They detained seven people, continued Daher.

One person, who is known in the village for having a mental disability, attempted to stop the soldiers, who shot and killed him, he said.

The soldiers left at 4:15 am after detaining the people they were after.

Daher said they were all Syrian natives of the village and used to be members of armed opposition groups that rose up against the Bashar al-Assad's ousted regime.

Sources revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat the names of the detainees: Amer al-Badawi, Mamoun al-Saadi, Ahmed al-Safadi, Mohammed al-Safadi, Hassan al-Safadi, Mohammed Badi Hamadeh and Ali Qassem Hamadeh.

Daher said he and his family had returned to Beit Jin in 2018 and that they never noticed any behavior by the detainees that they were working against Israel.

Israel had previously assassinated three residents of the village. They too were members of armed factions.

Moreover, Daher said he hasn’t noticed any activity by residents that indicate that they are members of or associated with Palestinian factions.

The Israeli army said it detained Hamas members during the Beit Jin raid and that they were planning attacks against it.

They have been taken to Israel for investigation. The army also said it discovered weapons in the area.

Syrian media confirmed the arrest of seven people and death of one person during the raid.

Since the fall of Assad’s government in early December, Israeli forces have moved into several areas in southern Syria and conducted hundreds of airstrikes throughout the country, destroying much of the assets of the Syrian army.

Tensions ticked up in early June after projectiles were fired from Syria towards Israel. Israel retaliated with its first strikes in nearly a month.

On June 8, Israel carried out a strike on the outskirts of Beit Jin on what it described as a Hamas member.

A resident of the village denied the claim, saying Israel targeted a youth called Anas Abboud and that he was a former member of a Syrian opposition armed group.