Egyptian Army Vows to ‘Uproot Terrorism’ in Sinai

Egypt's ground troops in a full-scale operation against militants in North and Central Sinai on Friday, April 1, 2018- Photo courtesy of the Armed Forces Spokesperson's Facebook page
Egypt's ground troops in a full-scale operation against militants in North and Central Sinai on Friday, April 1, 2018- Photo courtesy of the Armed Forces Spokesperson's Facebook page
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Egyptian Army Vows to ‘Uproot Terrorism’ in Sinai

Egypt's ground troops in a full-scale operation against militants in North and Central Sinai on Friday, April 1, 2018- Photo courtesy of the Armed Forces Spokesperson's Facebook page
Egypt's ground troops in a full-scale operation against militants in North and Central Sinai on Friday, April 1, 2018- Photo courtesy of the Armed Forces Spokesperson's Facebook page

The Egyptian army has vowed to uproot terrorism and create an investment-friendly climate in the Sinai Peninsula, which has been witnessing lagescale clashes with extremist groups affiliated with ISIS since 2013.

Lieutenant General Mohamed Farid, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, stressed that the army is persistently proceeding to uproot terror and extremism once and for all, and continuing to create the appropriate environment for investment and comprehensive development in Sinai.

Farid inspected on Thursday a number of security checkpoints on the main roads of North Sinai. He also followed up the military operations and security procedures of the permanent operations center in Arish city.

Military spokesman Colonel Tamer al-Rifai said that Farid met members of the armed forces and conveyed greetings of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Minister of Defense Gen. Mohamed Zaki.

Rifai also conveyed their pride in the armed forces' heroic role that contributed to eliminating terrorism and restoring normal life in cities of north and central Sinai.

Farid urged the armed forces to maintain the highest degree of vigilance and preparedness to counter all possible threats and hostile positions.

A cabinet statement by the North Sinai province on Thursday announced that alternative housing units were provided for the province’s residents damaged by clashes between law enforcement forces, and outlaws and terrorists.

The statement revealed that the citizen pays symbolic fees that don’t exceed EGP100.

Muhammad Eid, a public sector employee, told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that he moved from Sheikh Zuweid’s south in 2016 after it became a security operations zone.

Major General Abdel Fadil Shousha, governor of North Sinai, said that this is the second time the authorities are providing alternative housing units.

Managing director of housing department of North Sinai governorate Mohamed Radwan revealed that in the second phase, apartments were made available for 1,176 families in Arish.



Erdogan Expects Support from Syria in Türkiye's Battle with PKK

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a joint news conference with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, Nigeria October 20, 2021. (Reuters)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a joint news conference with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, Nigeria October 20, 2021. (Reuters)
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Erdogan Expects Support from Syria in Türkiye's Battle with PKK

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a joint news conference with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, Nigeria October 20, 2021. (Reuters)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a joint news conference with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, Nigeria October 20, 2021. (Reuters)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Syria's new leadership is determined to root out separatists there, as Ankara said its military had "neutralized" 32 members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, in the country.

A rebellion by groups close to Türkiye ousted Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad last month. Since then, Türkiye-backed Syrian forces have occasionally clashed in the north with US-backed Kurdish forces that Ankara deems terrorists.

"With the revolution in Syria... the hopes of the separatist terrorist organization hit a wall," Erdogan told his party's provincial congress in Trabzon.

"The new administration in Syria is showing an extremely determined stance in preserving the country's territorial integrity and unitary structure," he said.

"The end of the terrorist organization is near. There is no option left other than to surrender their weapons, abandon terrorism, and dissolve the organization. They will face Türkiye's iron fist," Erdogan added.

The defense ministry separately announced the armed forces' operation in northern Syria that it said had "neutralized" - a term that usually means killed - the 32 PKK members. It said Türkiye's military had also "neutralized" four PKK members in northern Iraq, where the militants are based.