Islamic State on Sunday claimed responsibility for an attack on an Egyptian police checkpoint in northern Sinai, the group’s Amaq news agency reported, saying 15 soldiers were killed or wounded in what it described as an infiltration operation. Egypt’s state news agency MENA said on Saturday that security forces foiled an attack on a checkpoint west of the city of al-Arish, and killed four militants while other fled. MENA made no reference to any casualties among security forces in the attack, but the privately owned al-Masry al-Youm newspaper reported that four policemen had died. Egyptian troops, backed by police, have since February been conducting a major operation targeting Islamist militants behind a wave of attacks against security forces and civilians. Amaq said Islamic State militants targeted the Kilometer 17 checkpoint west of al-Arish, without giving any evidence or details on how many were involved.

Source: Egypt Independent August 26, 2018 09:22 UTC