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| Egyptian Militant Group Pledges Loyalty to ISIS | Egyptian Militant Group Pledges Loyalty to ISIS |
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| CAIRO — An Egyptian militant group that has waged a deadly campaign mostly against local security forces released an audio statement early Monday pledging its allegiance to the Islamic State, the extremist group fighting in Iraq and Syria. | CAIRO — An Egyptian militant group that has waged a deadly campaign mostly against local security forces released an audio statement early Monday pledging its allegiance to the Islamic State, the extremist group fighting in Iraq and Syria. |
| The statement, released on a Twitter account associated with the Egyptian group, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, demonstrated the growing clout of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. The group has recruited jihadists from dozens of countries, including thousands of fighters from North Africa and the Persian Gulf. | The statement, released on a Twitter account associated with the Egyptian group, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, demonstrated the growing clout of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. The group has recruited jihadists from dozens of countries, including thousands of fighters from North Africa and the Persian Gulf. |
| In the recording, which was said to come from Ansar Beit al-Maqdis’s information department, a man said the group promised to “obey” the leader of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. (News reports from Iraq said Mr. Baghdadi was wounded in airstrikes over the weekend, but there was no definitive word on his status.) | |
| The confrontation between insurgents and the Egyptian government has grown increasingly violent. Last month, militants carried out the deadliest single attack on the Egyptian military in years, killing at least 31 soldiers in the Sinai Peninsula. | The confrontation between insurgents and the Egyptian government has grown increasingly violent. Last month, militants carried out the deadliest single attack on the Egyptian military in years, killing at least 31 soldiers in the Sinai Peninsula. |
| The government of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has responded by intensifying military operations in the Sinai region, demolishing hundreds of homes and displacing thousands of people on Egypt’s border with Israel to create a buffer zone in an effort to prevent arms smuggling. | The government of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has responded by intensifying military operations in the Sinai region, demolishing hundreds of homes and displacing thousands of people on Egypt’s border with Israel to create a buffer zone in an effort to prevent arms smuggling. |
| Mr. Sisi’s government has repeatedly asserted its dominance over the militants, even as the attacks have continued. | Mr. Sisi’s government has repeatedly asserted its dominance over the militants, even as the attacks have continued. |
| Ansar Beit al-Maqdis has emerged as the most lethal force in an insurgency that gathered pace last year after the military ouster of Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected president and a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. The group and other militants have largely focused their attacks on soldiers and police officers, claiming that the killings are in retaliation for repression by the security services. | Ansar Beit al-Maqdis has emerged as the most lethal force in an insurgency that gathered pace last year after the military ouster of Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected president and a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. The group and other militants have largely focused their attacks on soldiers and police officers, claiming that the killings are in retaliation for repression by the security services. |
| Analysts and Western diplomats familiar with intelligence reports said the decision over whether to associate with the Islamic State sparked a divisive internal debate within Ansar Beit al-Maqdis over whether such a move might alienate Islamists who joined the group intending to fight against Egypt’s military. In a possible reflection of the disagreements, the group denied reports last week that it had already declared its loyalty to the Islamic State. | Analysts and Western diplomats familiar with intelligence reports said the decision over whether to associate with the Islamic State sparked a divisive internal debate within Ansar Beit al-Maqdis over whether such a move might alienate Islamists who joined the group intending to fight against Egypt’s military. In a possible reflection of the disagreements, the group denied reports last week that it had already declared its loyalty to the Islamic State. |
| While the statement on Monday seemed certain to raise the visibility of the Egyptian group, whose name translates as “Supporters of Jerusalem,” it was not clear how it would alter the dynamic of the insurgency in Egypt. Parts of the statement appeared to reflect frustration on the part of Ansar Beit al-Maqdis that more people had not readily embraced their cause. | While the statement on Monday seemed certain to raise the visibility of the Egyptian group, whose name translates as “Supporters of Jerusalem,” it was not clear how it would alter the dynamic of the insurgency in Egypt. Parts of the statement appeared to reflect frustration on the part of Ansar Beit al-Maqdis that more people had not readily embraced their cause. |
| “What are you waiting for?” the statement said, in a portion directed at Egyptians. It was an echo of previous missives from the group that have sought to draw attention to abuses by the security services, including killings and arrests. | “What are you waiting for?” the statement said, in a portion directed at Egyptians. It was an echo of previous missives from the group that have sought to draw attention to abuses by the security services, including killings and arrests. |
| “When will you take out your swords?” the group said. “Have you accepted humiliation and shame?” | “When will you take out your swords?” the group said. “Have you accepted humiliation and shame?” |