Militants kidnap 3 tribal fighters in Sinai Peninsula

Security and medical officials in Egypt say Takfiri militants have abducted three pro-government tribal fighters manning a checkpoint in the North African country’s troubled Sinai Peninsula.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the militiamen came under attack in the town of Sheikh Zuweid, situated 334 kilometers (214 miles) northeast of the capital, Cairo, on Thursday, noting that two fighters from the tribal group were also wounded in the attack.

The incident took place only hours after a civilian was killed and six policemen were wounded after a roadside bomb struck a passing armored police vehicle in the city of el-Arish, situated 319 kilometers (198 miles) northeast of Cairo.

On October 13, two women were killed when an stray shell reportedly landed on their house in Sheikh Zuweid.

Separately, local Egyptian security sources confirmed that at least three policemen were injured, one of them seriously, when their armored vehicle was hit by a remote-controlled bomb in el-Arish.

The Egyptian military has been engaged in operations to quell acts of terrorism and militancy in the Sinai Peninsula. It views the volatile region as a safe haven for extremists.

The militant group Velayat Sinai, previously known as Ansar Bait al-Maqdis, has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks in Sinai. Last November, the group pledged allegiance to the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group, which is mainly operating in Iraq and neighboring Syria.

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