Soldier shot dead in Arish

A soldier from the Central Security Forces was allegedly killed after armed assailants attacked a security checkpoint in Arish, reported the state-run news site Egynews on Thursday.

A security source said that three gunmen in a four-wheel drive vehicle without license plates opened fire at a checkpoint in front of the Sina Sun Hotel, which reportedly hosts several police officials working in the area.

The victim, Mahmoud Fathy Mahmoud, was allegedly shot in the stomach and died before arriving at the hospital, reported the privately-owned Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper (AMAY).

Also on Thursday, two individuals were arrested at the Reesa checkpoint on charges of possession of a grenade, according to AMAY. Deputy Security Director Aly al-Azzazy claimed the suspects were coming from Rafah and headed to Arish.

Sinai has been the site of almost daily attacks on security checkpoints since former President Mohamed Morsi’s ouster, which has prompted a month-long crisis between the military and the Muslim Brotherhood.