عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Egyptian Army Kills 10 Terrorists in Sinai

Some of the weapons found with terrorists in Sinai (Military spokesman's official page)
Some of the weapons found with terrorists in Sinai (Military spokesman's official page)
TT
20
TT

Egyptian Army Kills 10 Terrorists in Sinai

Some of the weapons found with terrorists in Sinai (Military spokesman's official page)
Some of the weapons found with terrorists in Sinai (Military spokesman's official page)

The Egyptian army announced that at least 10 "extremely dangerous" terrorists were killed in a military raid in North Sinai province in northeastern Egypt.

Over the past weeks, north Sinai witnessed several clashes between armed militants affiliated with ISIS and the Egyptian army and police.

Egyptian military spokesman Gharib Abdel-Hafez announced that a terrorist outpost was discovered in which some extremist elements were holed up, where they were besieged and raided, without revealing the exact date of the raid.

Abdel-Hafez pointed out that the terrorist elements initiated the attack against the armed forces, which raided their hideout, killed ten, and arrested an injured terrorist while attempting to run away.

The militants had guns and ammunition in their possession, in addition to hand grenades, explosive belts, and several wireless devices.

The Egyptian military said it is determined "to uproot the remaining roots of terrorism and extremism and continue construction and development in all parts of Egypt."

Earlier, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi vowed to continue security operations in North Sinai to cleanse it of terrorism.

Sisi reviewed the security situation in Sinai during a meeting with top military officials, vowing to pursue and destroy militants.

He directed the generals to "complete the purge of some areas in northern Sinai from terrorists and takfiris and continue implementing security measures contributing to eradicating all forms of terrorism."

Meanwhile, the Cairo Criminal Court and the Emergency Supreme State Security sentenced former presidential candidate Abdelmoneim Abul-Fotouh and the Muslim Brotherhood's ex-supreme guide Mahmoud Ezzat to 15 years in prison.

The high state security prosecution accused Abul-Fotouh and Ezzat, and others in the trial of several charges, including leading the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist organization that attempted to change the regime by force and executing terrorist attacks targeting judges, army and police personnel, and public institutions to topple the government.

Abul-Fotouh was among several candidates who ran unsuccessfully in elections that saw the Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi voted into power.

Abul-Fotouh, 71, was arrested in 2018 after joining a call to boycott that year's presidential election and was charged with spreading false news to harm national interests.

The charges included collecting, receiving, possessing, supplying, transporting, and providing funds and weapons for the banned Brotherhood, with the intent of using them to commit terrorist crimes and provide a haven for terrorists.

The prosecution also charged Abul-Fotouh, Hussam Hamid, and Ayman Hamid with "directly and indirectly committing a terrorist crime by preparing and training individuals to use weapons."

Abul-Fotouh was also accused of acquiring and possessing publications that promoted the Brotherhood's ideologies with the intention of distribution.

Most Viewed

 
Arab World

Syria Is at a Crossroads: It Can Return to Violence or Transition to Peace, Says UN Envoy 

A member of Syria's security forces mans a gun in the back of a truck during the funeral of three people killed in Israeli strikes a day earlier, in the southern town of Daraa on March 18, 2025. (AFP)
A member of Syria's security forces mans a gun in the back of a truck during the funeral of three people killed in Israeli strikes a day earlier, in the southern town of Daraa on March 18, 2025. (AFP)
TT
20
TT

Syria Is at a Crossroads: It Can Return to Violence or Transition to Peace, Says UN Envoy 

A member of Syria's security forces mans a gun in the back of a truck during the funeral of three people killed in Israeli strikes a day earlier, in the southern town of Daraa on March 18, 2025. (AFP)
A member of Syria's security forces mans a gun in the back of a truck during the funeral of three people killed in Israeli strikes a day earlier, in the southern town of Daraa on March 18, 2025. (AFP)

Three months following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad, Syria is at a crossroads, the top UN envoy for the country said Tuesday.

Geir Pedersen told the UN Security Council that Syria can return to violence or start an inclusive transition and end decades of conflict.

He said the road back to conflict, fragmentation and violations of Syrian sovereignty by external powers "must not come to pass." The other road, which would restore Syria’s sovereignty and regional security, is "viable," but "requires the right Syrian decisions" and international support, Pedersen said.

Syria’s civil war had gone on for 13 years when a lightning insurgency led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group (HTS) overthrew Assad in December, ending his family’s more than 50-year rule.

Former HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa was announced as the country’s interim president after a meeting of armed groups that took part in the offensive.

Pedersen spoke weeks after clashes between Sharaa's security forces and armed groups loyal to Assad - sparked by an ambush by regime remnants on the security forces - spiraled into sectarian revenge attacks that killed scores of civilians, most of them Alawites, a minority sect to which Assad belongs. It was the worst violence since December.

Pedersen told the council that while the situation was "comparatively calmed" after several days, the UN continues to receive reports "of harassment and intimidation, including with heavy sectarian overtones."

He said the interim authorities announced an independent investigation. Pedersen said he stressed that it must be transparent, in line with international standards, and its findings made public.

The UN special envoy, who will be returning to Damascus shortly, highlighted several priority areas for action and attention.

The latest violence, he said, "laid bare the urgent need for credible and efficient accountability for crimes" committed over decades.

He said the UN and the international community will be watching whether the soon-to-be-announced transitional government and transitional legislative council reflect Syria’s diversity and include both men and women.

Pedersen said his team was consulted on a temporary constitution and gave advice on international best practices and norms. "Some of this was taken on board, some was not," he said.

In mid-March, Sharaa signed a temporary constitution that promises to protect the rights of all Syrians for five years during a transitional phase.

"Some Syrians have commended the effort to fill the constitutional vacuum, and noted the incorporation of international human rights norms," Pedersen said. "But others have expressed reservations about the non-transparent process of its drafting and the substance itself — particularly a very strong presidency with unclear checks and balances between state powers and ambiguity regarding the transition steps."

Pedersen also cited other issues that demand action, including dealing with armed groups and foreign fighters, and reviving the economy.