Egypt army: Ten soldiers killed and injured in north Sinai blast
“An explosive device went off hitting an armoured vehicle south the city of Bir al-Abd (in North Sinai),” he added.
Egypt’s army said on Thursday that 10 soldiers were either killed or wounded in a blast targeting an armoured vehicle in the restive northern Sinai.
The attack left 10 soldiers including an officer either killed or wounded, army spokesman Tamer al-Rifai said.
The statement said the Egyptian armed forces will continue their operations against terrorist elements in the region
The attack was not immediately claimed by any group. Militants loyal to Daesh are active in the strategic border region.
Army spokesman Tamer al-Rifai said the 10 casualties included an officer but did not provide details on the number of those killed or wounded.
Egypt‘s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi extended his condolences to the victims on Twitter.
Security forces have for years been battling to contain the insurgency in the turbulent North Sinai which intensified following the military’s 2013 ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.
Scores of soldiers and police were killed in militant attacks especially in the turbulent region over the years.
In February 2018, Egyptian security forces launched a nationwide, large-scale operation against militants, mainly focused on the North Sinai region.
More than 845 suspected militants have been killed in the region along with more than 60 security personnel, according to army figures.
