Egypt: Army announces killings of 18 militants in Sinai November 1

Event

On Thursday, November 1, the Egyptian army announced that 18 militants were recently killed in security operations in the Sinai Peninsula, including ten militants killed in an operation in Al-Arish (North Sinai province). An undisclosed number of militants were also recently killed in an airstrike in southern Egypt, according to the army. Additional clashes between security forces and militants are possible in the Sinai Peninsula and in southern Egypt over the near term.

Context

Security forces are currently conducting a significant counterterrorism operation in Egypt. The "Sinai 2018" mission aims to neutralize suspected militant and criminal cells in the Sinai Peninsula, the Nile Delta, and the Western Desert, as well as reinforce state control along the country's borders. The Egyptian police and the army have been placed on maximum alert in these regions for the duration of the operation. Official sources indicate that around 750 terrorists have been killed since the beginning of the year.

The Sinai Peninsula has been the epicenter of frequent attacks by Islamic State (IS)-affiliated militants since 2013 - usually targeting security forces or minority Coptic Christians.

Advice

Due to the prevailing threat of terrorism, individuals throughout Egypt should report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities and always be on guard when visiting sites deemed particularly vulnerable to an attack (i.e. public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.). Many governments advise against travel to North Sinai, where authorities maintain a media blackout and special security zones amid the ongoing anti-terrorist campaign.