Egypt Army Seizes Weapons While Chasing Terrorists

Military armored vehicle securing worshippers outside a mosque in Bir Al-Abed, northern Sinai, Egypt, December 1, 2017. Reuters
Military armored vehicle securing worshippers outside a mosque in Bir Al-Abed, northern Sinai, Egypt, December 1, 2017. Reuters
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Egypt Army Seizes Weapons While Chasing Terrorists

Military armored vehicle securing worshippers outside a mosque in Bir Al-Abed, northern Sinai, Egypt, December 1, 2017. Reuters
Military armored vehicle securing worshippers outside a mosque in Bir Al-Abed, northern Sinai, Egypt, December 1, 2017. Reuters

Egyptian army's border guards seized a number of weapons within the framework of its war on terrorist organizations.

Border guards seized two automatic rifles, 29 shotguns, 5,000 bullets, and 24 explosive devices, as well as 29 metal detectors, 2,200 kilograms of a rock from which gold ore is extracted and 73 vehicles used for smuggling during the period from January 16 until February 12.

The guards also managed to arrest 2,770 people while attempting to illegally cross the western and southern borders, according to armed forces spokesman Tamer al-Rifai, adding that the army detected and destroyed four tunnel openings on the border strip in North Sinai.

On Saturday, the army announced that seven terrorists and 14 others were injured in North Sinai in fire exchange after they attacked a force concentration. According to the army, 15 Egyptian soldiers were killed and injured during the attack, which ISIS claimed the responsibility for.

Since the army's overthrow of president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, a number of soldiers have been killed in attacks by extremist groups.

The General Secretariat of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned the terrorist attack on a security checkpoint in North Sinai.

OIC Sec-Gen, Yousef bin Ahmed al-Othaimeen, expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to the Egyptian Government. He stressed the OIC solidarity and stand with Egypt in the face of terrorism aimed at destabilizing its security and stability and support for all the measures Cairo would take to protect security and stability, and the safety of its citizens against the schemes of the terrorist organizations and groups.

Othaimeen reiterated the Organization’s principled position condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Also, Arab Parliament Speaker Mishaal bin Fahm al-Salami condemned a deadly terrorist attack that targeted the security checkpoint in Arish.

In a statement on Sunday, Salami strongly condemned the attack in North Sinai and asserted the support of the Arab Parliament to Egypt in its war against terror.

Salami lauded the Egyptian Armed Forces and their efforts to maintain stability in the country.



Lebanese Politician Accuses Israel of Increasing Bombardment to Wring Concessions

This picture taken from a position in northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon, shows an Israeli flag (L) on a destroyed building, and a Lebanese flag (R) painted on a damaged building in the southern Lebanese village of Mais al-Jabal on November 25, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP)
This picture taken from a position in northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon, shows an Israeli flag (L) on a destroyed building, and a Lebanese flag (R) painted on a damaged building in the southern Lebanese village of Mais al-Jabal on November 25, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP)
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Lebanese Politician Accuses Israel of Increasing Bombardment to Wring Concessions

This picture taken from a position in northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon, shows an Israeli flag (L) on a destroyed building, and a Lebanese flag (R) painted on a damaged building in the southern Lebanese village of Mais al-Jabal on November 25, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP)
This picture taken from a position in northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon, shows an Israeli flag (L) on a destroyed building, and a Lebanese flag (R) painted on a damaged building in the southern Lebanese village of Mais al-Jabal on November 25, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP)

Lebanon’s deputy parliament speaker has accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment of Lebanon in order to pressure the government to make concessions in indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah.

Elias Bou Saab, an ally of the Iran-backed group, said Monday that the pressure has increased because “we are close to the hour that is decisive regarding reaching a ceasefire.”

“We are optimistic, and there is hope, but nothing is guaranteed with a person like (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu),” Bou Saab told reporters.

Israel has carried out heavy strikes in central Beirut in recent days, while Hezbollah has increased its rocket fire into Israel.

The United States is trying to broker an agreement in which Hezbollah fighters and Israeli forces would withdraw from southern Lebanon and Lebanese troops would patrol the region, along with a UN peacekeeping force.

Israel has demanded freedom of action to strike Hezbollah if it violates the ceasefire, but Bou Saab said that was not part of the emerging agreement.

He also said Israel had accepted that France be part of the committee overseeing the ceasefire after Lebanese officials insisted. There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli side.

Israel has objected to France being on the committee in the wake of the International Criminal Court’s decision last week to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defense minister and a Hamas military commander.

France said it supports the court. It said the question of whether it would arrest Netanyahu if he set foot on French soil was a “complex legal issue” that would have to be worked out.