Comprehensive operation Sinai 2018 – Press photoCAIRO – 19 February 2018: About 67 terrorists have been killed and hundreds have been arrested since the beginning of the Comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018, according to army spokesperson Tamer al-Refai on February 9.The operation has been considered by experts and parliamentarians as a strong and firm message to the world that Egypt is facing a fierce war against terrorism and is capable on its own.After the seventh statement about the operation from the army on Tuesday, February 15, army spokesperson Tamer al-Refai held a conference to reveal the latest developments of the operation.He announced that 53 takfiri elements were killed and four others were detained, while 675 additional escaped and suspected criminals were detained.Refai also said that 57 four-wheel vehicles and 88 motorcycles used by terrorists were destroyed. Moreover, security forces destroyed 378 terrorist hotbeds, weapons and ammunition stores in Sinai. Amongst these hotbeds was a media center used by takfiri elements.Refai announced the discovery and destruction of 177 explosive devices and up to 1,500 kilograms of TNT explosives, including C4.At last, he stated that the military forces managed to discover and destroy three holes on the border strip of Sinai. 20 acres) of marijuana were burned.- Several airstrikes targeted terrorist concentrations and strongholds throughout the night and during the wee hours of Saturday morning.- Military jets hit storehouses of weapons, ammunition, explosive materials and logistic areas of terrorists.- Several pits, hideouts, and ammunition and weapons' warehouses were targeted by the air forces.- Units from the naval forces enhanced maritime security operations at vital seaports.- The Border Guard Forces and Civilian Police also tightened security procedures at land borders and navigational courses.- The comprehensive counter-terrorism military operation “Sinai 2018” was officially announced by armed forces spokesman Tamer al-Refae.- The statement highlighted that "Sinai 2018" came within the framework of the mandate, given by Egypt's Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi to the General Command of the Armed Forces and Ministry of Interior, to coordinate with all the country’s institutions to confront terrorism and all other related operations by extremists.The Egyptian armed forces announced the new major military operation dubbed "Comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018" to purge the country from terrorism on the morning of Friday, February 9.Comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018 comes within the armed forces’ ongoing counterterrorism operations in Sinai that are aimed at eliminating terrorists and takfiri elements, and eradicating their breeding grounds and hotbeds.Since the ousting of ex-Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated President Mohamed Morsi, Egypt has seen growing waves of extremism washing over the society and spawning numerous deadly attacks. Among these attacks was the terrorist attack that hit Al-Rawdah Mosque and left more than 302 Friday prayer congregants dead in late November.

Source: Egypt Today February 19, 2018 17:37 UTC