Egyptian military spokesperson Brigadier General Mohamed Samir said in a statement that the army killed 18 Takfiri militants in the operation on Sunday. Read| Egypt retaliates against Islamist militants after North Sinai attackHe said the campaign was bolstered by ongoing airstrikes against militant positions where security operations are taking place. The first stage of “Martyr’s Right” was launched by the security forces in response to an attack in October 2014 that killed 33 security personnel. Egypt has witnessed a series of terrorist attacks targeting policemen, judges and military personnel in different parts of the country. The military has launched security campaigns in the area, arrested suspects and demolished houses that belong to terrorists, including those facilitating tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip.

Source: Hindustan Times October 17, 2016 08:03 UTC