12 killed in North Sinai security operation

Twelve “takfiri elements” were killed on Friday in the military’s latest security operation in North Sinai, the Armed Forces' spokesperson said in a statement.

The operation targeted a jeep, killing five people who were reportedly armed in Sheikh Zuwayed. Seven others were also killed in the shootout.

Eleven suspects were arrested, six of whom are wanted by security forces, the statement said.

In another recent security operation in the area, the military destroyed 36 houses and 40 huts allegedly housing takfiri elements.

Takfiris advocate armed struggle against regimes they believe to have deviated from Islam.

The Armed Forces have been waging an intense operation against armed groups in the Sinai peninsula to combat an increase in attacks on security forces in the aftermath of former President Mohamed Morsi’s removal from power in July 2013. 

The military claims it is uprooting terrorism in the area. Residents of North Sinai have said counter-insurgency techniques used have involved scorched-earth tactics and human rights abuses.

The Armed Forces has been detailing its operations, namely in Sinai, in periodic media reports on its spokesperson’s official Facebook page.