The Egyptian security operation, which succeeded in eliminating the perpetrators of the terrorist attack in Al-Wahat area, has uncovered the great danger posed by that terrorist cell.
Brigadier Khalid Akasha, member of the National Council for Combating Terrorism and Extremism, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the number of the cell members exceeded 50 persons, who were equipped with modern weaponry not available inside Egypt, and that they infiltrated from Libya to carry out dozens of terrorist operations through potential cells spread in several provinces, waiting for orders to start the mission.
The Egyptian Army announced on Wednesday its success in eliminating the remaining perpetrators of the terrorist attack in Al-Wahat, which took place about two weeks ago. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi visited the officer Mohammed al-Hayes, who was rescued during a raid against terrorist suspects in western Fayoum, which included a military air strike.
Hayes was freed by security forces after he was abducted during confrontations with terrorists, that left 16 policemen killed and 13 wounded. The two-day clashes that started on October 20 also left 15 militants either dead or injured.
Sisi, accompanied by Interior Minister Majdy Abdel-Ghaffar, visited the police officer who was receiving treatment at a military hospital in Cairo.
Ambassador Bassam Radi, spokesman for the presidency, said the president praised the efforts of the military and security forces in confronting terrorism and keeping the security and stability of Egypt.
A statement issued by the Egyptian armed forces said that the Air Force, in cooperation with the security forces and the police, had identified and tracked the fugitive terrorist group in the desert region west of Fayoum and carried out a precise air strike that resulted in the elimination of all terrorist elements in the area.
The Egyptian army published a videotape of the successful operation carried out in cooperation with the police, which resulted in the elimination of a number of terrorist elements in Al-Wahat and the liberation of Hayes.
