GeoStrategy direct w/e 18-Dec-13
Egypt's army and security forces have reached their highest level of operations in the counter-insurgency campaign in the Sinai Peninsula.
Security sources said the Egyptian Army and Central Security Forces increased operations throughout November. They said by early December, the operations against Islamist insurgents in Sinai reached an all-time high.
"There has been a decision to significantly increase operations in Sinai before the onset of winter," a source said.
The sources said the expansion of CI operations was facilitated by the flow of intelligence regarding strongholds of Al Qaida-aligned militias in Sinai. They said the Egyptian military has located dozens of strongholds around the northern Sinai towns of El Arish and Rafah.
The Army has also launched operations in central Sinai, a mountainous region long off-limits to Egyptian forces. On Dec. 2, the Army identified and destroyed an insurgency stronghold in the Halal mountains.
The sources said the biggest increase in army and CSF operations was around El Arish, the capital of the province of North Sinai. They said police were also helping the military in patrols, checkpoints and house-to-house searches.
The insurgents have acknowledged setbacks amid the Egyptian offensive. On Dec. 2, a leading Al Qaida militia, Ansar Beit Al Maqdes confirmed the death of three of its senior fighters two days earlier.
Ansar said Ismail Hamadin, Ahmed Nasser and Khaled Al Qaidiry were killed in the northeastern Sinai town of Sheik Zweid, located near the border with the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. In a statement, Ansar said the three were responsible for recruitment and training.
Security sources said up to 80 percent of Islamist insurgents have either been killed, captured or fled Sinai. They said hundreds of insurgents were believed to have found haven in the Nile Delta on the African mainland.
"There has been a drastic reduction in the terrorist presence in Sinai, and there are now very few of them coming from the Gaza Strip," the source said.
Egypt's army and security forces have reached their highest level of operations in the counter-insurgency campaign in the Sinai Peninsula.
Security sources said the Egyptian Army and Central Security Forces increased operations throughout November. They said by early December, the operations against Islamist insurgents in Sinai reached an all-time high.
"There has been a decision to significantly increase operations in Sinai before the onset of winter," a source said.
The sources said the expansion of CI operations was facilitated by the flow of intelligence regarding strongholds of Al Qaida-aligned militias in Sinai. They said the Egyptian military has located dozens of strongholds around the northern Sinai towns of El Arish and Rafah.
The Army has also launched operations in central Sinai, a mountainous region long off-limits to Egyptian forces. On Dec. 2, the Army identified and destroyed an insurgency stronghold in the Halal mountains.
The sources said the biggest increase in army and CSF operations was around El Arish, the capital of the province of North Sinai. They said police were also helping the military in patrols, checkpoints and house-to-house searches.
The insurgents have acknowledged setbacks amid the Egyptian offensive. On Dec. 2, a leading Al Qaida militia, Ansar Beit Al Maqdes confirmed the death of three of its senior fighters two days earlier.
Ansar said Ismail Hamadin, Ahmed Nasser and Khaled Al Qaidiry were killed in the northeastern Sinai town of Sheik Zweid, located near the border with the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. In a statement, Ansar said the three were responsible for recruitment and training.
Security sources said up to 80 percent of Islamist insurgents have either been killed, captured or fled Sinai. They said hundreds of insurgents were believed to have found haven in the Nile Delta on the African mainland.
"There has been a drastic reduction in the terrorist presence in Sinai, and there are now very few of them coming from the Gaza Strip," the source said.
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