Egypt: 105 Terrorists Killed in Sinai Operation

The Egyptian army said that its Sinai operation will continue until its objectives are achieved. (Reuters)
The Egyptian army said that its Sinai operation will continue until its objectives are achieved. (Reuters)
TT

Egypt: 105 Terrorists Killed in Sinai Operation

The Egyptian army said that its Sinai operation will continue until its objectives are achieved. (Reuters)
The Egyptian army said that its Sinai operation will continue until its objectives are achieved. (Reuters)

The Egyptian army announced on Thursday that 105 terrorists have been killed in the Sinai 2018 operation that was launched in February to expel extremists from the Sinai region.

A military spokesman said that 2,829 criminals, “takfiris” and fugitives have been arrested in the operation. Several of them have since been released.

A total of 1,907 terrorist hideouts were destroyed, two transmission centers were discovered and 471 explosive devices were seized.

A total of 157 vehicles, 387 motorcycles and an SUV were confiscated, as well as quantities of explosives.

Sixteen members of the armed forces were killed, while 16 others were wounded while carrying out their duties in the operation.

The military spokesman stressed that the operation will continue until all of its objectives are achieved.

He said that all measures have been taken to secure the land and marine borders to thwart any possible infiltration. He emphasized that Egypt respects the sovereignty of all neighboring countries and it coordinates with them in counter-terrorism efforts.



France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
TT

France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)

Paris declined to comment on Algeria’s “strong condemnation” of the French government’s decision to recognize Morocco’s claim over the Sahara.

The office of the French Foreign Ministry refused to respond to an AFP request for a comment on the Algeria’s stance.

It did say that further comments could impact the trip Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is set to make to France in late September or early October.

The visit has been postponed on numerous occasions over disagreements between the two countries.

France had explicitly expressed its constant and clear support for the autonomy rule proposal over the Sahara during Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne’s visit to Morocco in February, reported AFP.

The position has helped improve ties between Rabat and Paris.

On Thursday, the Algerian Foreign Ministry expressed “great regret and strong denunciation" about the French government's decision to recognize an autonomy plan for the Western Sahara region "within Moroccan sovereignty”.

Algeria was informed of the decision by France in recent days, an Algerian foreign ministry statement added.

The ministry also said Algeria would draw all the consequences from the decision and hold the French government alone completely responsible.