Military kills 2, arrests 15 in North Sinai

The Armed Forces raided alleged militant hideouts in North Sinai yesterday, killing two suspected terrorists and arresting 15, spokesperson Mohamed Samir said on the military's official Facebook page.

The two were killed during an exchange of fire in the North Sinai capital of Arish. Raids on homes and vehicles being used by the alleged terrorists also took place in the North Sinai towns of Sheikh Zuwayed and Rafah.

Militant attacks, mainly against Egypt’s security forces, including the military and police, increased after July 3 last year when the military led the ouster of former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, after a mass wave of protests calling on him to resign.

The most recent attack occurred late on July 13, when seven civilians and one solider were killed in two separate attacks in Arish. Twenty-five people were also injured in the mortar attack that targeted a market place and military camp. The attack that killed and injured civilians was unusual given that they have mostly been aimed at security targets.

Increasing violent attacks have been met with a stepped up campaign by the military and police to root out so-called terrorism in North Sinai and elsewhere. Residents of North Sinai have said counter-insurgency techniques used by the Armed Forces have involved scorched-earth tactics and human rights abuses.