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WORLD NEWS Saturday 8 July 2017

Islamic militant attack in Egypt’s Sinai kills 23 soldiers

By ASHRAF SWEILAM tor for Islamic insurgency.
MAGGIE MICHAEL Recently the IS affiliate has
Associated Press emerged at the forefront of
EL-ARISH, Egypt (AP) — Is- the insurgency.
lamic militants attacked a Friday’s assault began in
remote Egyptian army out- the early morning, when a
post in the Sinai Peninsula suicide bomber rammed
with a suicide car bomb his vehicle into a check-
and heavy machine gun point at a military com-
fire Friday, killing at least 23 pound in the village of el-
soldiers in the deadliest at- Barth, southwest of the bor-
tack in the turbulent region der town of Rafah.
in two years. Dozens of masked militants
Though there was no im- then descended on the site
mediate claim of respon- in 24 Land Cruiser SUVs and
sibility, the strike bore all opened fire on the soldiers
the hallmarks of the Islamic with machine guns, ac-
State group. At least 33 sol- cording to security officials.
diers were wounded in the The shooting lasted nearly
assault. half an hour, the officials This photo posted on a file sharing website Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, by the Islamic State Group
The coordinated attack added, speaking on condi- in Sinai, a militant organization, shows a deadly attack by militants on an Egyptian police check-
suggested the Sinai-based tion of anonymity because point, in el-Arish, north Sinai, Egypt. Officials say a similar attack started Friday, July 7, 2017, when
militants are among the re- of regulations. The troops a suicide car bomber rammed his vehicle into the checkpoint in southern Rafah village of el-
gion’s most resilient, after IS at the compound were es- Barth, followed by heavy shooting by dozens of masked militants on foot. Arabic reads, “The
advance of the squad to kill any apostates left alive.”
in Iraq and Syria, where the timated to have numbered (Islamic State Group in Sinai via AP)
so-called caliphate is now about 60.
witnessing its demise. And it When the attack subsided, back, and some of their ve- via WhatsApp, seeking help voice calmly says in the re-
underscored the struggles the militants apparently hicles were abandoned at and asking for prayers. The cording. “Quickly, oh men,
Egyptian forces face in try- looted the checkpoint, the scene. message, which was later anyone who knows how to
ing to rein in the insurgency. snatching weapons and The suicide blast at the start widely circulated on social reach the command cen-
Egypt has for years battled ammunition before flee- of the attack likely disabled media, is said to belong to ter, notify them to use artil-
militants in Sinai, where ing, the officials said. It was the checkpoint’s military one of the five officers killed lery as we are still alive.”
the jihadis have exploited unclear if they also took communications system, in the attack, identified as He then praises God and
the vast arid and under- armored vehicles. A num- prompting an officer to Lt. Col. Ahmed el-Mansi of ends by saying “we will ei-
developed region and its ber of militants were killed use his own cellphone to the special forces. ther avenge them or die,”
disgruntled Bedouin popu- in the shootout, indicat- record an audio message “This might be the last sec- referring to his fallen col-
lation as an ideal incuba- ing the soldiers had fought and send it to a colleague onds in my life,” a man’s leagues. q

Anti-Qatar bloc threatens further steps against Gulf state

By ADAM SCHRECK it intends to “continue its later issued a 10-day ulti- and failing to appreciate It said its position on ter-
Associated Press policy aimed at destabiliz- matum to a 13-point list of the gravity of the situation. rorism “is consistent and
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- ing security of the region.” demands that included Qatar has strenuously de- known for its rejection and
ates (AP) — Four Arab They vowed to “take all cutting ties with terrorist nied that it supports ex- condemnation of all forms
countries isolating Qatar necessary political, eco- groups, curbing relations tremist groups. It is refusing of terrorism whatever the
vowed Friday to take ad- nomic and legal measures” with Iran and shutting me- to shutter Al-Jazeera, one causes and motives are.”
ditional steps against the against Qatar in a “timely dia outlets, including the Al- of its best-known brands, It went on to say that Qa-
energy rich Gulf state after manner.” They did not Jazeera TV network. and sees the ultimatum as tar “is an active member
it refused to accept their specify what those steps Qatar issued its response to an affront to its sovereignty. committed to international
demands over allegations could include, though of- the ultimatum in a hand- In a statement attributed to conventions in combating
that it supports extremist ficials have previously sug- written letter from 37-year- an unnamed senior foreign terrorism and its financing
ideology. gested they could intensify old Emir Tamim bin Hamad ministry official released lat- at the regional and inter-
Saudi Arabia, the United efforts to isolate Qatar eco- Al Thani that was delivered er Friday, Qatar called alle- national levels.”
Arab Emirates, Egypt and nomically. earlier this week to Kuwait, gations made by the quar- The official said Qatar is will-
Bahrain accused Qatar The four countries cut dip- which is mediating the cri- tet against it false and tan- ing to cooperate with me-
in a joint statement car- lomatic ties and severed sis. The contents of the letter tamount to “defamation diation efforts “and review
ried on Gulf state media of air, land and sea links with have not been disclosed, in contradiction with the all claims that do not con-
thwarting all efforts aimed World Cup 2022 host Qa- but the anti-Qatar bloc established foundations of tradict with the sovereignty
at resolving the rift and said tar early last month. They described it as “negative” international relations.” of the State of Qatar.”q