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| Sinai: Egypt sends reinforcements as offensive builds | Sinai: Egypt sends reinforcements as offensive builds |
| (about 21 hours later) | |
| Egypt has deployed extra troops, tanks and other armoured vehicles to the Sinai peninsula in an escalation of its military offensive in the area. | Egypt has deployed extra troops, tanks and other armoured vehicles to the Sinai peninsula in an escalation of its military offensive in the area. |
| The reinforcements follow the killing of 16 border guards by suspected Islamist militants on Sunday. | The reinforcements follow the killing of 16 border guards by suspected Islamist militants on Sunday. |
| The army has also begun sealing off tunnels into Gaza, according to Egypt's Mena news agency. | The army has also begun sealing off tunnels into Gaza, according to Egypt's Mena news agency. |
| Earlier reports that fresh fighting had broken out in al-Arish have been denied by a source quoted by the agency. | Earlier reports that fresh fighting had broken out in al-Arish have been denied by a source quoted by the agency. |
| According to Nile News TV, violent clashes had broken out between police and armed men outside a police station in the town. | According to Nile News TV, violent clashes had broken out between police and armed men outside a police station in the town. |
| At least a dozen military transporters, each carrying two armoured personnel carriers, passed us on the main coastal road in al-Arish. | At least a dozen military transporters, each carrying two armoured personnel carriers, passed us on the main coastal road in al-Arish. |
| We watched as they unloaded at the main military base here. | We watched as they unloaded at the main military base here. |
| Sights like this have not been seen in the Sinai Peninsula since Egypt's 1973 war with Israel and a small crowd of locals stood by staring. | Sights like this have not been seen in the Sinai Peninsula since Egypt's 1973 war with Israel and a small crowd of locals stood by staring. |
| One man told us he hoped the army would come down hard on Islamist militants, describing the killing of 16 Egyptian border guards last weekend as "heinous". | One man told us he hoped the army would come down hard on Islamist militants, describing the killing of 16 Egyptian border guards last weekend as "heinous". |
| Others in al-Arish have expressed more cautious opinions, pointing out that in the past there has been a heavy-handed approach from security forces when dealing with the local Bedouin population. | Others in al-Arish have expressed more cautious opinions, pointing out that in the past there has been a heavy-handed approach from security forces when dealing with the local Bedouin population. |
| Tensions are likely to rise as action is taken to destroy the smuggling tunnels between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. | Tensions are likely to rise as action is taken to destroy the smuggling tunnels between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. |
| There are said to be hundreds of them used mainly to transfer fuel and goods into Gaza, but sometimes to move weapons and people illegally. | There are said to be hundreds of them used mainly to transfer fuel and goods into Gaza, but sometimes to move weapons and people illegally. |
| After years with little economic development, many North Sinai residents rely on the tunnels trade. | After years with little economic development, many North Sinai residents rely on the tunnels trade. |
| But a security source told Mena the shots had been fired into the air by a man driving an unlicensed car. | But a security source told Mena the shots had been fired into the air by a man driving an unlicensed car. |
| Violence in the region began on Sunday, when militants carried out the deadliest and most brazen attack against Egyptian troops in the Sinai region for decades. | Violence in the region began on Sunday, when militants carried out the deadliest and most brazen attack against Egyptian troops in the Sinai region for decades. |
| There were further attacks on checkpoints in al-Arish on Wednesday, which left a number of people wounded. | There were further attacks on checkpoints in al-Arish on Wednesday, which left a number of people wounded. |
| Egypt launched its military offensive hours later, launching missile strikes from helicopters. | Egypt launched its military offensive hours later, launching missile strikes from helicopters. |
| According to military officials, 20 people were killed in the village of Touma, while the Sheikh Zuwaid area to the west was also hit. | According to military officials, 20 people were killed in the village of Touma, while the Sheikh Zuwaid area to the west was also hit. |
| Egypt's military presence in Sinai is limited and requires Israeli approval under the terms of the 1979 peace treaty which returned Sinai to Egyptian control. | Egypt's military presence in Sinai is limited and requires Israeli approval under the terms of the 1979 peace treaty which returned Sinai to Egyptian control. |
| Analysts say that the security situation in the area has deteriorated following the fall of Hosni Mubarak last year, and that Islamist extremists appear to have gained a foothold. | Analysts say that the security situation in the area has deteriorated following the fall of Hosni Mubarak last year, and that Islamist extremists appear to have gained a foothold. |
| There are hundreds of illegal tunnels along the Egypt-Gaza border that are used for smuggling people and goods. | There are hundreds of illegal tunnels along the Egypt-Gaza border that are used for smuggling people and goods. |
| The militants who launched Sunday's attacks are believed to have used them as an escape route. | The militants who launched Sunday's attacks are believed to have used them as an escape route. |