Sinai blast condemned

Bahrain yesterday condemned the terrorist attack that targeted a security checkpoint in North Sinai, Egypt, which resulted in the martyrdom and injury of a number of security officers. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

The ministry affirmed its solidarity and support to all measures taken by Egypt to preserve its security and stability. It stressed the Kingdom’s firm position that rejects all forms of violence, extremism, and terrorism and called for concerted international efforts to end terrorism and cut its sources of funding.

Fifteen Egyptian military personnel were killed or wounded in a clash in North Sinai in which seven militants were also killed, the Egyptian military said. The Islamic State later claimed responsibility for the attack on its news agency AMAQ. It said it killed at least 15 Egyptian troops, revising an earlier figure of 20 killed south of the provincial capital of Arish after clashes with “various kinds of weapons”. The group did not provide evidence for its claim.

Security forces launched a campaign a year ago against Islamist militants focused on Egypt’s Sinai peninsula, and said they have killed several hundred militants since then.