Egyptian forces have arrested 12 "extremely dangerous" leaders of "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) affiliate Wilyat Sinai, Egypt's Ahram Online reported Sunday (March 5th).
The 12 were arrested in central Sinai while they held meeting to plan a range of "deadly" attacks, the army said in a Saturday statement.
Meanwhile, in an unscheduled Sunday visit to the State Security headquarters in Cairo, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi expressed his appreciation for the security bodies responsible for maintaining stability and protecting the state.
The state is determined to provide all necessary support to enhance the capabilities of the State Security department in face of the ongoing threat of terrorism, he said.
He stressed that each of the country's security bodies aim to preserve Egypt’s national, economic, political and security institutions.
