Dozens Killed in Islamist Attack on Egyptian Army Checkpoints

Islamist militants attacked several army and police checkpoints in the Sinai Peninsula on Wednesday, July 10, resulting in dozens of soldiers and police officers being killed, according to security sources. The coordinated attacks occurred on Wednesday morning, just one day after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi warned during the funeral of the Attorney General that he would take a tougher stance against Islamists. Egyptian military sources report at least 50 people were killed in these attacks, while Al Jazeera reports at least 70 fatalities. The scale and intensity of these attacks indicate the capability and pre-planned organization of armed groups fighting against the Egyptian army and police in Sinai. Since the new Egyptian government under President el-Sisi has allocated more resources and forces to these conflicts two years ago, the frequency of attacks by these groups has increased. One group affiliated with the 'Islamic State' in Egypt claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating that its militants simultaneously targeted 15 army and police positions and executed three suicide bombings using vehicle explosions, with two targeting checkpoints and one targeting an officers' club in the city of Al-Arish. The accuracy of the information and claims made in this statement, published on a Facebook account linked to the group, has yet to be confirmed. Apart from the attack on the officers' club in Al-Arish, other assaults occurred in Sheikh Zuweid, where at least six army and police checkpoints were targeted. Several soldiers were taken captive, and a quantity of weapons, ammunition, military vehicles, and armored personnel carriers were seized. Egyptian security officials, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, stated that at least 50 personnel from the army and police were killed and 55 others injured in these attacks. General Mohamed Samir, spokesman for the Egyptian armed forces, stated on Wednesday that clashes are still ongoing. In his statement, he reported 10 soldiers killed. Due to conflicting reports regarding casualty figures, the exact number of deaths and injuries from these attacks cannot be confirmed. General Samir also mentioned that around 70 Islamist militants attacked five checkpoints in Sinai, with army forces killing 22 of them and destroying three of their vehicles armed with anti-aircraft weapons. Late on Wednesday, General Samir added that army forces attacked two gathering points of militants in northern Sinai and completely destroyed them. He noted that Egyptian air forces simultaneously targeted the militants' positions during the ongoing clashes, but did not provide new casualty figures for them. The Associated Press recalls that over the past two years, a series of complex and successful attacks have been carried out against Egyptian army positions, with a local group affiliated with the 'Islamic State' claiming responsibility for many of these assaults. Egyptian military officials stated that a large number of militants have besieged the main police station in Sheikh Zuweid and are engaged in firefights with a small number of police officers inside the building using mortars and RPGs. According to military officials, two of the six checkpoints attacked on Wednesday were completely destroyed, with an average of 50 to 60 personnel stationed at each checkpoint. The group affiliated with the 'Islamic Caliphate' stated in its announcement that two of these checkpoints were attacked by suicide bombers in vehicles. Two days prior, Hisham Barakat, the Attorney General of Egypt, was killed in a bombing of a car parked along his route. The day before, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi promised to intensify the crackdown on Islamist groups that began two years ago.