Egypt: Fatal car bomb at military checkpoint in Sinai July 24

Event

On Monday, July 24, the Egyptian army reported that seven civilians, including two children, were killed in a car bomb explosion near a military checkpoint in the city of Al-Arich, North Sinai Province. The bomb detonated before reaching its military target where soldiers were stationed, approximately 200 meters away, after armed forces opened fire on the assailants.

Context

Egypt faces an IS insurgency in the restive Sinai Peninsula, where hundreds of soldiers and police have been killed since 2013. Northeastern Sinai has been a particularly volatile area in the region, on the border with Israel and the Gaza Strip. Egypt has been under a nationwide state of emergency since April 2017, when IS militants carried out attacks on two churches in Tanta and Alexandria, leaving over 50 people dead.

Advice

The security environment in Egypt remains complex. Although travel is permissible in some areas, other areas should be considered strictly off limits. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.