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| Egyptian Armed Forces in Sinai |
Two huge explosions took place of Friday, 9 August, in Egyptian Northern
Sinai in the area close to the Israeli border. The explosions happened at
nearly 4 p.m. local time.
Egypt’s official Armed Forces spokesperson Ahmed Ali has confirmed these
explosions on Friday.
There are conflicting reports regarding these explosions in the media
and in the official statements as well as there are reports the explosions were
a result of Israeli drone strike launched on Egyptian territory. Israel in its
turn refuses to comment on the incident and to give the details and its
authorities are being studying the reports regarding it.
Earlier on Friday Associated Press (AP) has shared the story stressing
the explosions were a result of Israeli strike on the Egyptian territory which
was launched in coordination with Egyptian Armed Forces in the framework of the
fight against militants in Northern Sinai and indicates the new level in
Egyptian-Israeli relationships and their military cooperation.
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| Israeli drone allegedly striked into Egyptian territory and killed 5 militants |
But later Egyptian authorities and Armed Forces officials have denied
this information. Ahmed Ali, military’s spokesperson, has stressed that media
should verify its information before publishing and denied all the reports
about possible Israeli military activity on the Egyptian territory, despite the
fact that earlier on Friday two Egyptian military officials, who remained
anonymous as they were not authorized to speak with the press, announced Israel
launched two strikes on Egyptian territory killing five Islamist militants.
The explosions taken place close to Rafah border with Gaza and Israel
have reportedly destroyed rocket launcher set up near the border with Israel
and aimed for the attack against the Jewish state.
There have been also the reports of witnesses that Egyptian military
helicopter was seen circling in the area before and after the explosion.
The reports regarding possible cooperation between Israeli and Egyptian
military regarding the Friday explosions and killing of the militants appeared
again on Saturday, 10 August.
Thus, Al-Qaeda linked militant group based in Egypt’s Sinai made a
statement of their official website on Saturday stating that the explosions
were the result of Israeli drone strike which targeted Islamist militants on
Egyptian territory and was launched in cooperation with Egyptian military. The
militant organization has also stressed Egyptian helicopter has been seen
patrolling the area before the Israeli drone strike and right after it. The
militant organization claims the strike killed at least four members of the organizations,
mostly Sinai tribesmen.
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| Egyptian military in the area |
Israeli military officials though refused to comment on the details of
the strike stressing that even if Israel was involved the authorities try to
avoid embarrassing Egyptian military.
Later Egyptian authorities announced the Israeli drone attack on the
territory of Sinai has been launched in cooperation and coordination with
Egyptian side.
The situation in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula remains tense and dangerous
since Hosni Mubarak’s ouster in 2011, but after Egypt’s Islamist backed
President Mohamed Morsy has been withdrawn from office by the military decree
following massive demonstrations against him the situation in Sinai
deteriorated significantly, with the daily attacks of armed militants and
terrorists against Egypt’s security and armed forces. Nearly 60 people have
been reportedly killed during this period of time, and the massive military
operation has been launched in the region again.
As for the neighboring Israel, it has strengthen its security measures
in the border area as the terrorist activities are considered being dangerous
for the Jewish state as well and the threat of the terrorist attacks against Israel
is higher nowadays.
On Thursday, 8 August, Israeli authorities have closed Eilat
International airport, which is located close to Egyptian border, due to the
reports from Egypt regarding the alleged terrorist attacks against Israel.
Israeli Defense Forces have deployed the additional forces and also their Iron
Dome facilities intercepting the rockets in the area.
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