Egypt’s president visits troops in embattled north Sinai

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. In Jordan, like in Egypt, it is likely that the terrorist organization will seek to establish bases from which to work not only against the Jordanian army, but also against Israel.

“He has enough political capital to do the things he wants to do, but his support is eroding”, said Kessler.

Egypt launched air strikes in North Sinai on Saturday, killing 12 militants, security sources said, and the Egyptian president visited the restive province where the bloodiest fighting in years erupted earlier this week.

This prompted the Egyptian authorities to deploy large security forces to maintain order in other parts of Egypt, thus decreasing their presence in Sinai.

Addressing the soldiers in military fatigues – a first since his ascension to power – the former military chief said the objective of the militant group’s attacks were to announce “the establishment of an Islamic state in Sinai” to mark the second anniversary of Morsi’s ouster.

Cairo: Rattled by attacks on its soldiers and the assassination of the top prosecutor, Egypt is set to pass sweeping legislation critics say grants police impunity, censors media and further restricts freedoms.

Israel has shut border crossings between Egypt, Israel and Gaza after Islamic militants unleashed a wave of attacks on Egyptian army checkpoints in the Sinai Peninsula, killing at least 38 soldiers. Brotherhood leaders, who have called for an uprising against Sisi but typically avoid explicit endorsement of violence, vehemently deny any affiliation.

The foreign ministry said the murder of Barakat and the Sinai attacks “affirm the presence of organised terrorist activity perpetrated by the Muslim Brotherhood” – Morsi’s blacklisted movement. The Muslim Brotherhood, which Morsi led, has condemned all of these attacks, which have been carried out by a number of radical Islamist groups.

Two men were killed when a mortar round hit another house in Sheikh Zuweid. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to release the information otherwise.

Four wanted militants and 29 suspected militants were also arrested.

At least 25 fighters loyal to ISIL killed in town of Sheikh Zuweid, and weapons and explosives destroyed, military says. The group claimed responsibility of the Friday shelling in a post on Twitter stating that “three Grad rockets were fired at Jewish positions in occupied Palestine.” It seems as if there were no injuries nor casualties after the Israeli police stated that it found the remnants in an open area.