Egypt: 12 dead in Isis attack on security checkpoint in central Sinai
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.An Isis attack has left at least 12 people dead at a security checkpoint in Egypt, marking a possible spread of violence on the Sinai peninsula.
The attack took place around 40 km (25 miles) away from the town of Bir al-Abd, and was conducted by heavily armed militants, medical and security sources said.
It was not immediately clear whether the victims belonged to the military, the police, or a joint force. Eight others were wounded.
Though the Egyptian authorities have been fighting an insurgency in the Sinai peninsula since 2011, the attack on Friday was one of the deadliest this year.
The Reuters news agency reports that it is the first major attack targetting the central part of the North Sinai province, an area which has so far escaped a campaign of Islamist attacks.
The wounded were taken to a hospital in al-Arish, the surrounding area of which has itself been the scene of intense fighting and Egyptian military air strikes in recent weeks.
Sinai's Islamist insurgency gained in strength after the overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's oldest Islamist movement, by the military in 2013.
The militant group staging the insurgency pledged allegiance to Islamic State in 2014 and changed its name from Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis to Sinai Province. It is blamed for the killing of hundreds of soldiers and policemen, and has started to target Western targets within Egypt.
Additional reporting by agencies
More follows
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments