Egypt's Sisi vows to use "utmost violence" to eradicate terrorism in Sinai

ISMAILIA, Egypt, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said Saturday that Egypt's armed forces will use "utmost violence" to eradicate terrorism in the country's Sinai Peninsula.

He made the remarks while inaugurating a number of national mega projects at the Suez Canal region in Ismailia province northeast of the capital Cairo.

He said that Egyptians "should never fear any foreign threats" as long as they are united, reassuring the country is heading in the right direction towards development and success despite terrorist plots.

Sisi's remarks came a few days after a shelling attack that targeted Arish airport in North Sinai killed an officer, wounded two others and caused damages to a helicopter during the visit of defense and interior ministers to Arish city.

On Nov. 24, also in Arish, a terrorist attack against a mosque in a small village killed at least 310 Muslim worshippers and wounded over 120 others, marking the deadliest terror operation and the first against a Muslim mosque in Egypt's modern history.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the mosque attack, yet a Sinai-based terrorist group loyal to the Islamic State (IS) regional group is the main suspect.

Following the mosque attack, Sisi ordered the army's chief of staff to restore security and stability in the restive part of the peninsula within three months.

Terror activities in Egypt have killed hundreds of security men and civilians since the military toppled former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to mass protests.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian security forces have killed hundreds of terrorists and arrested a great number of suspects during the country's anti-terror operations. Enditem