An Egyptian Armed Forces spokesperson announced a small blast on Thursday hitting a gas pipeline in the Sabika area, 10 km west of al-Midan, causing no injuries. Eyewitnesses told Reuters that the explosion hit the Qantara gas pipeline. The extent of the damage to the pipeline was not immediately clear, and Reuters was not able to contact Egyptian authorities to clarify. For years, Egypt has grappled with an extremist insurgency in North Sinai, which is led by a local affiliate of the Islamic State. The militants have targeted security forces, Christians, and gas pipelines between Egypt and its neighbors, with the most recent pipeline attack happening last February.

Source: Egypt Independent November 20, 2020 10:32 UTC