CAIRO: At least five Egyptian military personnel were killed in a militant attack on Wednesday in northern Sinai, two security sources said, the second deadly strike against security forces on the peninsula in less than a week.
Four others were injured when armed men opened fire at a security post in the coastal area of northeastern Sinai, which borders the Gaza Strip, the sources said.
There was no immediate comment from Egyptian authorities.
The UAE strongly condemned the attack and affirmed permanent rejection of all forms of violence aimed at destabilizing security and stability and inconsistent with humanitarian values and principles, state news agency WAM reported on Wednesday.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed reiterated the UAE’s solidarity with Egypt in confronting terrorists, and its support for all the measures it takes to protect its security and stability from these heinous attacks.
He also expressed his sincere condolences to the Egyptian government and to the families of the victims, wishing the injured for a speedy recovery.
The deaths follow a May 7 ambush at a checkpoint in Sinai that killed 11 Egyptian soldiers and was claimed by Daesh, one of the deadliest attacks in recent years.
Egypt expanded security control over populated coastal areas of northern Sinai since a major counter-insurgency operation was launched in 2018, but sporadic attacks by militants linked to Daesh have continued.
News of Wednesday’s attack came as President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met US national security adviser Jake Sullivan in Cairo. The Egyptian presidency said the two had discussed the strategic partnership between Egypt and the United States, which is a major provider of military aid to Cairo.
On Monday, El-Sisi voiced hopes for deeper counter-terrorism ties with Washington in a meeting with the general who oversees US forces in the Middle East, a US military official said.
(With Reuters)
