Egypt army kills 6 ISIS elements in Sinai

The Egyptian army announced on Monday (September 25th) that it has killed six "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) elements in Sinai over the course of six days as part of the army's "Martyrs' Right" operation.

From September 16th to the 21st, the army killed six ISIS elements and arrested 31 others in northern Sinai, said army spokesman Col. Tamer al-Refai.

Egyptian forces destroyed 65 hideouts, 56 motorcycles, three vehicles packed with explosives and nine improvised explosive devices (IEDs), he said.

"Computers, communication devices, administrative supplies, materials and tools used in making IEDs, six kilogrammes of heroin and 22 kilogrammes of cannabis were also seized," he added.

"The army and police forces will cease their operations in Sinai only when all takfiri and terrorist elements have been eliminated," said Maj. Gen. Tharwat al-Nusair, an advisor at Nasser Military Sciences Academy.

"Egypt’s political leadership aims to declare northern Sinai terrorism-free as soon as possible, once it has been cleared of ISIS elements," he told Al-Mashareq.

Egypt seeks to establish security in that area as part of its goals to eliminate terrorism and bolster peace in the Middle East, he added.

"Peace and stability in Egypt stimulate investments and help improve the tough economic conditions which the country has been facing for years," he said.

The recent operations have been successful, he said, as the army was able to take out dozens of terrorists in successive raids on their hideouts in the mountains and desert of Sinai.

"All of Egypt’s institutions are backing the army in its war on terror, and are providing assistance and support to it," al-Nusair said, including area residents who want their jobs and economy back.