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)
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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.



US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
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US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)

The United States is deferring the removal of certain Lebanese citizens from the country, President Joe Biden said on Friday, citing humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon amid tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The deferred designation, which lasts 18 months, allows Lebanese citizens to remain in the country with the right to work, according to a memorandum Biden sent to the Department of Homeland Security.

"Humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon have significantly deteriorated due to tensions between Hezbollah and Israel," Biden said in the memo.

"While I remain focused on de-escalating the situation and improving humanitarian conditions, many civilians remain in danger; therefore, I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Lebanese nationals who are present in the United States."

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading fire since Hezbollah announced a "support front" with Palestinians shortly after its ally Hamas attacked southern Israeli border communities on Oct. 7, triggering Israel's military assault in Gaza.

The fighting in Lebanon has killed more than 100 civilians and more than 300 Hezbollah fighters, according to a Reuters tally, and led to levels of destruction in Lebanese border towns and villages not seen since the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.

On the Israeli side, 10 Israeli civilians, a foreign agricultural worker and 20 Israeli soldiers have been killed. Tens of thousands have been evacuated from both sides of the border.