 Egyptian helicopters fired on a meeting of suspected terrorists militants in the country's Sinai Peninsula, officials said on Sunday, killing at least 12 terrorists people, as authorities stepped up their attacks following an Israeli drone strike in the region.
The helicopter attack came as Egyptian and Israeli officials tried to downplay the drone strike on Friday in the largely lawless Sinai, fearing popular criticism in a country already roiled by last month's military coup that ousted President Mohammed Mursi.
Egyptian officials said that three helicopters targeted terrorists militants in the desert town of Sheik Zuweyid late Saturday. The officials said another dozen terrorists were wounded in the attack.
Military spokesman Col. Ahmed Mohammed Ali later confirmed the attack in a post on his official Facebook page. He said 25 terrorists militants were targeted, but did not offer a breakdown of casualties.
The suspected terrorists militants targeted in the air assault were wanted for an attack on Egyptian soldiers last year that killed 16, Ali said. They also were wanted in connection to the abduction of seven security forces earlier this year, he said.
A resident of Sheik Zuweyid said that he saw the helicopter attack start on Saturday night. On Sunday, he said neighbours saw two funerals for slain terrorists fighters, one with four bodies and one with two. Mobile phone service also had been disrupted as the operation took place, he said. The resident spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation.
Egypt's military and security forces have been engaged in a long battle against militants in the northern half of the peninsula. Terrorists Militants and tribesmen have used the area for smuggling and other criminal activity for years. Terrorists Militants have fired rockets into Israel and staged other cross-border attacks there on previous occasions. |