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Isis claims attacks on Egyptian army checkpoints as dozens dead in Sinai Isis claims attacks on Egyptian army checkpoints as dozens dead in Sinai
(about 2 hours later)
Islamic militants have killed at least 38 soldiers in a wave of simultaneous attacks, including a suicide car bombing, on Egyptian army checkpoints in the Sinai peninsula, security and military officials said. Islamic militants have killed at least 38 soldiers in a wave of simultaneous attacks, including a suicide car bombing, on Egyptian army checkpoints in the Sinai peninsula.
The attacks took place just south of the town of Sheikh Zuweid and targeted at least six military checkpoints, the officials said. The militants also took soldiers captive and seized several armoured vehicles, they added. The attacks took place just south of the town of Sheikh Zuweid and targeted at least six military checkpoints, security and military officials said. The militants also took soldiers captive and seized several armoured vehicles, they added.
Egypt’s Isis affiliate claimed responsibility for the wave of deadly attacks. Egypt’s Isis affiliate claimed responsibility for the attacks. They came two days after the assassination of Hisham Barakat, the country’s chief prosecutor, in Cairo, and a day after the president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, vowed to step up a two-year crackdown.
Related: Egyptian president 'to change law to allow faster executions'Related: Egyptian president 'to change law to allow faster executions'
Wednesday’s attacks came two days after the assassination of Hisham Barakat, the country’s chief prosecutor, in Cairo, and a day after the president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, vowed to step up a two-year crackdown. Militants have battled the security forces in northern Sinai, which borders Israel and the Gaza Strip, for years. They stepped up their attacks after the military removed the former president Mohammed Morsi from office in July 2013 after days of mass street protests against his rule.
Militants in northern Sinai, which borders Israel and the Gaza Strip, have battled the security forces for years but stepped up their attacks following the removal from office in July 2013 by the military of the former president Mohammed Morsi after days of mass street protests against his rule. Sisi, then head of the armed forces, went on to become president after winning a landslide election a year later.
Sisi, then the head of the Egyptian armed forces, went on to become the president after winning a landslide election a year ago. The latest attacks came in swift response to Sisi’s pledge to ensure justice for the prosecutor general’s assassination, and possibly move to execute Muslim Brotherhood leaders.
The attacks came in swift response to Sisi’s pledge to carry out justice for the prosecutor general’s assassination – and possibly move to execute Muslim Brotherhood leaders, a group from which Morsi hails.
Since Morsi’s removal, Egypt has waged a crackdown that has led to thousands of arrests, mass convictions and death sentences. Morsi is among those condemned to death, but has a potentially lengthy appeal process ahead of him.Since Morsi’s removal, Egypt has waged a crackdown that has led to thousands of arrests, mass convictions and death sentences. Morsi is among those condemned to death, but has a potentially lengthy appeal process ahead of him.