News / Egypt

Blast hits restive Sinai, leaves 3 Egyptian forces dead

Sunday, 24 April 2016 7:00 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 24 April 2016 6:57 AM ]

Egyptian army special forces man a temporary checkpoint outside Sharm el-Sheikh Airport in South Sinai Province, Egypt, November 11, 2015. ©AFP

An explosion has rocked Egypt’s volatile Sinai Peninsula, killing three Egyptian military forces, local media say.

The incident took place early on Sunday when security forces were on patrol to arrest terrorists in a southern village of the Sheikh Zuweid town, located in North Sinai Province, the Cairoportal website reported.

One officer along with two other military forces lost their lives while another trooper sustained injuries after an improvised explosive device went off.

No individual or militant group has yet claimed responsibility for the blast, but such incidents are often blamed on militants affiliated with the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group.

The government in Cairo views Sinai Peninsula as a safe haven for terrorists.

The sparsely populated desert region has been under a state of emergency since October 2014, following a deadly terrorist attack that left 33 Egyptian soldiers dead.

Over the past years, militants have been carrying out anti-government activities and fatal attacks, taking advantage of the turmoil caused in Egypt after democratically-elected president, Mohamed Morsi, was ousted by the military in July 2013.

Militants from the Takfiri Velayat Sinai group, previously known as Ansar Bait al-Maqdis, have claimed responsibility for most of the attacks, mainly targeting the army and police.

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