Egyptian forces killed 15 extremists in an exchange of fire in north and central Sinai during a combing operation and raid as Operation Sinai 2018 entered its sixth day, Egypt’s Ahram Online reported Wednesday (February 14th).
Egyptian forces said air units destroyed 11 targets after receiving vetted intelligence that the locations were being used to accommodate extremist elements, the military said in a statement.
Security forces have arrested 153 suspects, and have initiated legal procedures against them, the statement said.
Armed forces also discovered two underground weapons cashes, containing 1,500 kilogrammes of highly explosive C-4 and TNT, as well as 56 detonators and 13 circuits used to manufacture improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
They destroyed 181 dens and mountain storehouses containing a number of highly explosive materials and chemical elements used to manufacture IEDs, as well as a large number of vehicles and fuel used by the militants.
Military engineers uncovered and disarmed 64 IEDs planted along strategic routes, and a transmission centre used by the extremists was located and destroyed, the statement said.
Additionally, 13 farms used to grow illegal narcotics were uncovered, and 800 kilogrammes of drugs were seized, the statement added.
