Clashes in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula kill 2 children

At least two children have been killed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, a day after at least 44 people were killed and dozens of others injured in a series of militant attacks across the volatile region.

Medical authorities, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a six-month-old baby was hit in the head by a bullet and a six-year-old was killed in a rocket blast in the peninsula on Friday as Egyptian army troops clashed with militants in the area.

Two more people, including a 12-year-old boy, sustained grave gunshot wounds.

The latest fatalities come as a massive car bomb on Thursday detonated outside the headquarters of the 101st Brigade of the Egyptian army in the city of el-Arish, situated 344 kilometers (214 miles) northeast of the capital, Cairo, leaving scores of people killed and wounded.

Two Egyptian army officers were also injured when an army convoy was targeted with mortar shells in the border city of Rafah.

Over an hour later, there were reports of another ambush on an army convoy just south of Rafah. Gunmen also reportedly attacked a checkpoint in the city.

Earlier on Thursday, fierce clashes broke out between militants and Egyptian army soldiers in the town of Sheikh Zuweid. The violence lasted for over an hour, and completely destroyed an armored vehicle belonging to the Egyptian military.

Ansar Bait al-Maqdis militant group has claimed responsibility for Thursday’s attacks.

A state of emergency has been declared in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula since a militant attack on an Egyptian army checkpoint killed more than 30 soldiers in October 2014.

The Egyptian military considers the Sinai Peninsula a safe haven for gunmen, who use the region as a base for their “acts of terror.”

Ansar Bait al-Maqdis, which has pledged allegiance to the ISIL Takfiri terrorist group, has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks in the peninsula.

MP/HSN/SS

Related Stories

44 killed in Egypt’s Sinai attacks Thu Jan 29, 2015

Egypt extends Sinai state of emergency Mon Jan 26, 2015

More fatalities in Egypt’s Sinai Thu Jan 15, 2015 

Egypt forces kill 7 militants in Sinai Wed Jan 14, 2015

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk