1st LD: Egypt's army kills 98 militants in Sinai
Xinhua, September 12, 2015 Adjust font size:
Egypt's army killed at least 98 militants Friday in "major military operation" against the Islamic State (IS) group in the restive Sinai Peninsula, military spokesman Mohamed Samir said.
"In resuming its efforts to eliminate terrorist elements around North Sinai, the air forces in coordination with the artillery forces have killed 98 jihadists," the statement added.
The army launched the operation dubbed "the martyrs' rights" since Monday around the North Sinai towns of Rafah, Sheikh Zuweid and El-Arish, which has killed at least 232 militants in four days.
Egypt has been suffering a surge of anti-security militant attacks after the ouster of the Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 by the army, in response to mass protests against his rule.
Most of the attacks, which have killed hundreds of army and policemen, were claimed by Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis group, which has changed its name to "Sinai State" and declared allegiance to the IS militant group last year.
In response, the army has launched wide-scale operation to uproot the militants' hideouts in the Peninsula since 2013. Endit