Army forces arrested three Takfiris and a four-wheeled car hidden in a cave in the middle of the Sinai desert, as well as explosive materials used to make improvised explosive device (IED), Armed Forces spokesperson Tamer al-Refaei said on Saturday.
Refaei added that the forces seized four motorcycles, belonging to the members, in addition to a truck loaded with spare motorcycle parts.
In a related matter, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi held on Saturday a meeting with Defense Minister Gen. Sedki Sobhy, Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar, Director of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate Major General Khaled Fawzy, and Secretary-General of the Defense Ministry Muhammad Farid Hegazy.
Presidency Spokesman Alaa Youssef said that Sisi was informed of the measures to be taken to secure Egypt’s land and maritime borders, as well as retain full control over crossing points, addressing the relevant authorities’ high level of preparation to confront terrorism.
Major General Fouad Allam stated to Asharq Al-Awsat that capturing those accused of supporting terrorism in Sinai indicates wide-success and reassurance since this proves that the armed forces are in control of crossing ports and roads.
Allam added that the detained represent a treasure of information to the security bodies – this will facilitate capturing terrorist groups in Sinai and foiling potential operations in the future.
Maj. Gen. Mohammed Noureddine, the former assistant to the minister of interior, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the last two operations in east and west Egypt show that the Egyptian security bodies are in an ongoing war that needs support from the interior.
Egyptian police and army are being victims of recurring attacks, mainly in Sinai, since the ousting of Mohammed Morsi in 2013.
