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Sinai Province: Egypt's most dangerous group Sinai Province: Egypt's most dangerous group
(12 days later)
The militant group Sinai Province is currently the most active insurgent group in Egypt. It has been linked to a number of deadly attacks, mostly in North Sinai, but also in the capital, Cairo, and other provinces.The militant group Sinai Province is currently the most active insurgent group in Egypt. It has been linked to a number of deadly attacks, mostly in North Sinai, but also in the capital, Cairo, and other provinces.
The Islamist group has been active on the Sinai peninsula since 2011 and was initially known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (Supporters of Jerusalem). The Islamist group has been active on the Sinai Peninsula since 2011 and was initially known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (Supporters of Jerusalem).
It changed its name after it pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group in November 2014.It changed its name after it pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group in November 2014.
At the start of July this year, Sinai Province staged a series of attacks against the army, whose scale and complexity observers said indicated the possibility of closer coordination with the IS leadership in Syria.At the start of July this year, Sinai Province staged a series of attacks against the army, whose scale and complexity observers said indicated the possibility of closer coordination with the IS leadership in Syria.
IS strategiesIS strategies
Brian Fishman, a researcher at the New America Foundation in Washington, was quoted by the New York Times as saying that the coordination illustrated by the assailants - suicide bombers backed up by direct and indirect fire, well-aimed mortars used in combination with small arms, and simultaneous assaults in many places - was the strongest evidence yet of strategies also used by Islamic State jihadists in Syria and Iraq.Brian Fishman, a researcher at the New America Foundation in Washington, was quoted by the New York Times as saying that the coordination illustrated by the assailants - suicide bombers backed up by direct and indirect fire, well-aimed mortars used in combination with small arms, and simultaneous assaults in many places - was the strongest evidence yet of strategies also used by Islamic State jihadists in Syria and Iraq.
Sinai Province is now thought to be aiming to take control of the Sinai Peninsula in order to turn it into an Islamist state run by the Islamic State group. Sinai Province is thought to be aiming to take control of the Sinai Peninsula in order to turn it into an Islamist province run by the Islamic State group.
The number of active Sinai Province members is believed to be between 1,000 and 1,500.The number of active Sinai Province members is believed to be between 1,000 and 1,500.
State of emergencyState of emergency
It appears to have been operating mainly, but not exclusively, in North Sinai province, which has been under a state of emergency since October 2014 when 33 security personnel were killed in an attack claimed by the group. Sinai Province appears to have been operating mainly, but not exclusively, in North Sinai, which has been under a state of emergency since October 2014 when 33 security personnel were killed in an attack claimed by the group.
Egyptian Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb has described the army's confrontation with the group there as a "state of war". The then Egyptian prime minister, Ibrahim Mehleb, has described the army's confrontation with the group there as a "state of war".
North Sinai is thinly populated and generally underdeveloped. Many of the local population are said to feel marginalised and therefore more inclined to be supportive of the militants.North Sinai is thinly populated and generally underdeveloped. Many of the local population are said to feel marginalised and therefore more inclined to be supportive of the militants.
The border with Israel and the Gaza Strip has been a scene of tension over the past few years. The Egyptian authorities are trying to maintain a buffer zone, demolishing houses and digging a trench to prevent smuggling between Egypt and Gaza - which they say is a source of weapons for the militants. The border with Israel and the Gaza Strip has been a scene of tension over the past few years. The Egyptian authorities are trying to establish a buffer zone, demolishing houses and digging a trench to prevent smuggling between Egypt and Gaza - which they say is a source of weapons for the militants.
The group started by attacking Israeli with rockets, but after the ouster of Islamist President Muhammad Morsi in 2013 it has mostly focused on Egypt's security services and has killed dozens of soldiers. The group started by attacking Israel with rockets, but after the removal of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in 2013 it has focused mostly on Egypt's security services, killing dozens of soldiers.
It has been involved in suicide bombings, drive-by shootings, assassinations and beheadings.It has been involved in suicide bombings, drive-by shootings, assassinations and beheadings.
Sinai Province claimed responsibility for an assassination attempt on Interior Minister Muhammad Ibrahim in September 2013 near his home in Cairo. In July 2015, the group was seen to widen it tactics, when it said it had attacked an Egyptian naval vessel in the Mediterranean with a missile fired from the shore - a worrying development for shipping in the region.
Months later it said it was behind a bomb attack on a tourist bus in the Sinai town of Taba on the border with Israel which left three South Koreans and the Egyptian driver dead. The militants said the attack destroyed the vessel and killed its crew, but Egyptian officials said there were no casualties, contradicting the militants' claim.
In a piece of propaganda designed to discredit the security forces, in August 2014, the group broadcast a video showing the beheading of four military servicemen they accused of spying for Israel's security service, Mossad. Civilians warned
The group was seen to widen it tactics in July 2015, when it said it had attacked an Egyptian naval vessel in the Mediterranean with a missile fired from the shore - a worrying development for shipping in the region. While the Sinai Province group has mostly targeted security forces, it has also singled out civilians.
The militants said the attack destroyed the vessel and killed its crew, but Egyptian officials said there were no casualties, and challenged the group's account. In recent months, there has been a dramatic advance in the group's media and production capabilities. In several videos, Sinai Province has urged citizens to avoid cooperating with the authorities, especially by joining the army and police.
Citizens warned In August the group reportedly killed a Croatian engineer who was working for a French energy company in Egypt. Tomislav Salopek was kidnapped while travelling on a road west of Cairo earlier in July.
There has in recent months been a dramatic advance in the group's media and production capabilities. In several videos, Sinai Province has urged citizens to avoid co-operating with the authorities, especially by joining the army and police. A photograph posted online appeared to show that Salopek had been beheaded. However, the Croatian government said it had not been able to verify his death.
While security forces have been Sinai Province's main targets, civilians have also been singled out. The reported beheading of Salopek was most likely aimed at threatening tourists and foreign employees of Western companies.
In November 2014, the group abducted and killed foreigner for the first time - US oil worker William Henderson, though it is not clear where exactly he was taken from. Expansion
The Sinai Province group has also expanded its operations outside Sinai, notably in Egypt's Western Desert. The area is popular with tourists for its oases and rock formations, but is also a militant hideout due to its proximity to volatile Libya.
In July 2014, the Sinai Province claimed responsibility for attacking an army checkpoint in the Farafra Oasis, near the Libyan border, that left 22 army soldiers dead.
In May of the same year, the army said that six of its personnel were killed in an exchange of fire in the same area. It said the attack came in response to a military campaign to hunt down militants in the Western Desert.
On 13 September, the militant group said in a statement that it had "resisted a military operation" in the Western Desert. On the same day, Egyptian Interior Ministry said security forces had mistakenly killed 12 people, including Mexican tourists, during an anti-terror operation in the Bahariya Oasis in the Western Desert.
BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook.BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook.