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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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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)

Italy plans to send an ambassador back to Syria after a decade-long absence, the country’s foreign minister said, in a diplomatic move that could spark divisions among European Union allies.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking in front of relevant parliamentary committees Thursday, announced Rome’s intention to re-establish diplomatic ties with Syria to prevent Russia from monopolizing diplomatic efforts in the Middle Eastern country.

Moscow is considered a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has remained in power despite widespread Western isolation and civilian casualties since the start of Syria’s civil war in March 2011.

Peaceful protests against the Assad government — part of the so-called “Arab Spring” popular uprisings that spread across some of the Middle East — were met by a brutal crackdown, and the uprising quickly spiraled into a full-blown civil war.

The conflict was further complicated by the intervention of foreign forces on all sides and a rising militancy, first by al-Qaida-linked groups and then the ISIS group until its defeat on the battlefield in 2019.

The war, which has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half the country’s pre-war population of 23 million, is now largely frozen, despite ongoing low-level fighting.

The country is effectively carved up into areas controlled by the Damascus-based government of Assad, various opposition groups and Syrian Kurdish forces.

In the early days of the conflict, many Western and Arab countries cut off relations with Syria, including Italy, which has since managed Syria-related diplomacy through its embassy in Beirut.

However, since Assad has regained control over most of the territory, neighboring Arab countries have gradually restored relations, with the most symbolically significant move coming last year when Syria was re-admitted to the Arab League.

Tajani said Thursday the EU’s policy in Syria should be adapted to the “development of the situation,” adding that Italy has received support from Austria, Croatia, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Cyprus and Slovakia.

However, the US and allied countries in Europe have largely continued to hold firm in their stance against Assad’s government, due to concerns over human rights violations.