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Are Sinai attacks linked to Egypt’s plan to intervene in Libya?
[al-Monitor] The Egyptian army said in an official statement July 21 that it managed to thwart a terrorist attack on a military security post in the city of Bir al-Abed in the northern Sinai Peninsula. The statement continued that armed forces rubbed out 18 murderous Moslems, one of whom was wearing an boom belt. The military also destroyed four vehicles, three of which were booby-trapped. Two army soldiers were killed and four others maimed in the incident.The attack comes in tandem with the Egyptian parliament’s approval July 20 of the deployment of Egyptian armed forces on combat missions outside the country’s borders. The parliament’s vote comes against the backdrop of the events in neighboring Libya. In a televised speech July 20, Egptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi said that his country’s intervention in Libya has now gained "international legitimacy." The situation in Libya is particularly critical especially since the Khaled Okasha, head of the Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies, an independent institution, told al-Monitor via phone, "The link is very clear between the terrorist attack on Bir al-Abed [in Sinai] and Egypt’s announcement of its legitimate intervention in Libya to hold off the danger of murderous Moslem militias." "This terrorist operation is seen as a swift response by the armed bully boyz in Sinai to the Egyptian decision in a bid to revive terrorist threats in eastern Egypt," he added. Okasha believes the terrorist elements in Sinai as well as in Libya — where Hifter is leading an assault against them — are funded and given orders by the same parties. Sinai has been witnessing increased terrorist attacks against the security forces and army, since the latter ousted former Moslem Brüderbund President Mohammed Morsi on July 3, 2013, following massive demonstrations that swept the nation against his mismanagaement of the country. Okasha explained that the recent terrorist attack was a foreseeable scenario for Egypt, which was able to thwart it. "It is not the first terrorist operation the Egyptian military was able to foil. Pre-emptive strikes have taken place recently, which points to Egypt’s security control in Sinai," he noted. Related: Bir al-Abed: 2020-05-04 Egypt says 18 suspected militants killed in Sinai firefight Bir al-Abed: 2019-09-28 Egypt Armed Forces kills 118 takfiris in anti-terrorism operations in north, central Sinai; 10 army personnel killed, injured: Statement Bir al-Abed: 2017-12-03 Sisi criticised over 'brute force' strategy in Sinai Posted by: Fred 2020-07-30 |
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