Egyptian Army announced that security forces launched an operation that involves thousands of troops and is unprecedented in terms of its scope, coordination and size.
Army spokesman Colonel Tamer el-Rifai announced in a televised statement that the military and police forces initiated a large-scale security operation in the northern Sinai Peninsula, Nile Delta, central Sinai and the Western Desert along the porous border with Libya, ISIS strongholds.
“Operation Sinai 2018” is targeting “terrorist and criminal elements and organisations”, el-Rifai said, which involves land, sea and air forces. The air force had launched attacks against militant hide-outs in north and central Sinai, and the navy had tightened control of the waterways to cut off supply lines, he said.
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, ordered the armed forces in November to defeat militants within three months.
Security sources said the operation is unprecedented in its scope, coordination and size, and involves thousands of troops.
On the ground, special forces, working with police, conducted raids inside cities in Sinai to seize militants, Rifai said. He explained that border guards and naval forces were securing the Suez Canal to make sure navigation through the international waterway was not affected.
It gave no details on any casualties in the operation or any figures on the number of people arrested, but said the assault would continue.
“The armed forces calls upon the Egyptian people in all parts of the country to closely cooperate with law enforcement forces to confront terrorism, uproot it and immediately report any elements threatening the security and stability of the country,” military spokesman added.
Rifai said in a second statement the air force had targeted militant hide-outs in north and central Sinai, while the navy tightened its maritime control to cut off supply lines.
State Security Investigations Services in Egypt ordered the arrest of 14 members of Hasam movement, the armed wing of Muslim Brotherhood group. They will remain in custody for 15 days on charges of committing terrorist crimes.
The prosecution accused the defendants of joining a group established contrary to the provisions of the law, with the purpose of disobeying the constitution and laws. It also accused them of endangering national unity and social peace, embracing the extremist ideas, calling to change the regime by force, and attacking the members of the armed forces and the police in order to disrupt the public order and endanger the safety and security of society.
They were also accused of premeditated murder for terrorist purposes, possession of explosive devices, automatic weapons and ammunition, and using them in terrorist acts.
The Interior Ministry announced on Saturday that three Hasam terrorists had been killed and 14 others arrested. The members were planning to carry out a series of simultaneous attacks on vital institutions, facilities, armed forces and police during the period leading up to the presidential elections.
Investigations revealed that extremists were from several governorates, especially Fayoum, near Cairo, who benefited from its geographical nature to set up camps and select members from the lake in the Egyptian Delta.
The investigations also indicated that several Brotherhood members living abroad provide financial support Hasam terrorists to carry out schemes assigned to them, and purchase weapons and explosive materials to be used in wide-ranged terrorist operations.
For its part, the second chamber of Tanta Criminal Court decided on Saturday to renew the detention of 18 members of Muslim Brotherhood for 45 days in the investigation, accusing them of joining a banned group established against the provisions of the law, and disturb the public peace.
