Egypt: New Period of Security Measures in Sinai

Members of the Egyptian army during a previous security campaign in North Sinai (the official page of the military spokesman)
Members of the Egyptian army during a previous security campaign in North Sinai (the official page of the military spokesman)
TT

Egypt: New Period of Security Measures in Sinai

Members of the Egyptian army during a previous security campaign in North Sinai (the official page of the military spokesman)
Members of the Egyptian army during a previous security campaign in North Sinai (the official page of the military spokesman)

Egyptian authorities on Sunday began implementing the decision of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to step up and extend security measures in some areas of the Sinai Peninsula, to “preserve security and protect facilities,” for another six months after the approval of Parliament.

The Egyptian House of Representatives, headed by Counselor Dr. Hanafi Jabali, approved last Wednesday the Presidential Decision No. 130 of 2022, regarding imposing some or all measures in some areas of the Sinai Peninsula, for another six months.

The decision extends the provisions of the Presidential Decree No. 442 of 2021. It was approved by a majority of the Parliament's members.

The decision was put in action starting Sunday, April 3, 2022.

Additional measures in the Sinai region included imposing a curfew and evacuating some residences.

On October 24, Sisi announced cancelling the state of emergency imposed on the whole country since 2017, justifying that Egypt “has become an oasis” of security and stability in the region. Meanwhile, the state of emergency in Sinai has been in place since 2014.

The new six-month extension of the state of emergency in the Sinai Peninsula will witness additional security measures.

Apart from the curfew and the evacuation, the string of measures will include a ban of entry to some areas and the barring of some communication means. Possession and obtaining some materials will also be prohibited as well as riding motorbikes.

Studies at Sinai Peninsula schools will either be partially or completely suspended.

The second article of the Presidential Decree included the imposition of a curfew in the areas specified by the Minister of Defense.

The curfew decision will be applied on areas from Tal Rafah in the eastern part of the Sinai Peninsula along the international border to Awja in the eastern part at Mount Halal. The curfew is also applicable in parts of northern Sinai, particularly from western Arish to southern Mount Halal.



Israel Issues Evacuation Warning for Five Southern Lebanese Towns

A civil defense member walks among the debris at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's Basta neighborhood, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
A civil defense member walks among the debris at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's Basta neighborhood, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
TT

Israel Issues Evacuation Warning for Five Southern Lebanese Towns

A civil defense member walks among the debris at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's Basta neighborhood, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
A civil defense member walks among the debris at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's Basta neighborhood, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

The Israeli army issued a statement on Sunday requesting the residents of five towns in southern Lebanon to evacuate in anticipation of airstrikes, while warning residents not to head south.
The military told the residents of Zawtar al-Sharqiya, Zawtar al-Gharbiya, Arnoun, Yuhmor, and al-Qusayba, to evacuate their homes immediately and move north of the Awwali River.
“You must evacuate immediately to the north of Awwali River to ensure your safety, you must evacuate without delay. Anyone near Hezbollah fighters, facilities or weapons is putting their life at risk”, added the statement.
In a separate statement, the army said that sirens sounded in central Israel due to Hezbollah rockets fired from Lebanon.
It added that six projectiles were detected crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory, and that its air forces intercepted five of the rockets, while the last one landed in an open area.