The Egyptian military has launched a series of aggressive military operations against the onslaught of ISIS in North Sinai. The country initiated a number of airstrikes and ground operations that effectively damaged ISIS, killing 63 of the extremists in the ensuing skirmish.
The Egyptian army was able to locate four militant hideouts, which were then attacked by Apache helicopters and ground troops. The offensive also targeted vehicles belonging to the Islamic State. The skirmish between the Egyptian military and the Islamic State is the most recent in a long series of battles that have plagued the Sinai, which had witnessed the heaviest and most intense fighting in recent years, reports Arutz Sheva.
Islamic State's Egypt affiliate, who was recently renamed Sinai Province, has killed hundreds of soldiers and other authorities since the army forced President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood out of power in 2013, according to Reuters.
Despite the fact that the region has already been problematic for Egypt and its neighbors for some time, the violence and strife has escalated significantly since the Mursi fell out of power. Just last week, the Islamists carried out a multi-pronged attack that killed about 50 Egyptian soldiers.
Egypt, however, has dealt with the onslaught by fighting back and exercising extreme vigilance. Last Saturday, Egyptian soldiers were able to foil an attempt by ISIS to seize new territory in the Sinai.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi acknowledges the threat of the Islamic State, though he praised the Egyptian troops for foiling ISIS' advance. "No one can impose on the Egyptians something they don't want. To reach the Egyptians they have to pass through the army, the sons of Egypt," he said.
